While the Denver Broncos, the Carolina Panthers and the Houston Texans have each found their next head coaches, the Arizona Cardinals have yet to complete their coaching search, but appear to be keying in on one candidate – and it would be bad news for the Cincinnati Bengals.
As league insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported on Friday, the Cardinals are bringing in Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for a second interview for the team’s head coaching vacancy, which would seem to indicate that he is one of the frontrunners for the job.
From Super Bowl Live: The #AZCardinals plan to meet again today with #Bengals DC Lou Anarumo, as their search won't be wrapped up before the Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/r3gxLi2eGn
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 10, 2023
“The Cardinals are still doing interviews,” Rapoport said. “They have a big one tomorrow with Lou Anarumo, the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator.”
While the Cardinals have not made any formal decisions about their head coaching vacancy just yet, losing a coach as important as Anarumo so late in the NFL coaching carousel would be a major blow to the Bengals, and the NFL world had plenty to say about his potential departure.
If Lou leave I might cry man https://t.co/1kQvui1vLi
— 757 Fuu🏴 (@JayFuuBabyy) February 10, 2023
NOOOOO PLS NOOOOO https://t.co/BNpwWU47Gz
— Zoults (@Zoults) February 10, 2023
If we lost Lou AFTER the Super Bowl…it would be extremely detrimental. A lot of good DC’s already picked up https://t.co/zRz7a8K2CP
— Perc Nowitzki (@Young_Yolaaaa) February 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/Burreaux2Uno/status/1624053621720481794?s=20&t=dj0blnDg92Ad_bY8pPCkRw
Don’t do it Lou. https://t.co/V5GlKAZ1Bw
— WHODEY Jake (@WHODEY_Jake) February 10, 2023
noooooooo https://t.co/Xu3nytdQCP
— Matt (@STTDB_) February 10, 2023
Anarumo has emerged as one of the top defensive coordinators in the entire NFL, particularly due to his game planning against some of the league’s top quarterbacks and offenses. He’s been an integral part of the Bengals deep playoff runs each of the last two seasons.
[Ian Rapoport]