EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Less than 24 hours after his defense helped the Cincinnati Bengals advance to the AFC Championship Game, Lou Anarumo today interviewed for the Giants' head coaching position.
Anarumo, who has been the Bengals' defensive coordinator for three seasons, was the Giants' defensive backs coach in 2018.
Anarumo, 55, spoke this afternoon via video conferencing with team president John Mara, chairman Steve Tisch and Joe Schoen, who was hired last week as the Giants' new general manager. Anarumo is the third candidate to interview for the job, joining Buffalo Bills coordinators Brian Daboll (offense) and Leslie Frazier (defense). Schoen was the Bills' assistant general manager the previous five seasons.
Cincinnati's defense yesterday intercepted three Ryan Tannehill passes in a 19-16 victory against the top-seeded Tennessee Titans in a divisional playoff game in Nashville. The last pick, by Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on a pass that was batted into the air by former Giants cornerback Eli Apple, gave the ball to the Bengals at their 47-yard line with 20 seconds remaining. Four plays later, rookie Evan McPherson kicked the game-winning 52-yard field goal as time expired.
In the regular season, Anarumo's defense finished fifth in the NFL against the run, allowing 102.5 yards a game. The Bengals were 17th in scoring defense (allowing 22.1 points a game) and 18th in total yardage (350.9 per game). Cincinnati allowed just two touchdowns the last two weeks in playoff triumphs against Las Vegas and Tennessee.
The Bengals' most disruptive defensive player, Pro Bowl end Trey Hendrickson, finished fifth in the league with 14.0 sacks.
Anarumo has coached football for more than 30 years, including the last 10 in the NFL.
In 2020, Cincinnati's defense featured seven new starters from the previous season but held opposing passers to just a 62.8 completion percentage, sixth lowest in the NFL. Anarumo helped develop Jessie Bates III – who intercepted Tannehill on the game's first play yesterday – into one of the league's most productive safeties, as well as standouts Wilson, Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard.
In Anarumo's debut season as coordinator in 2019, Cincinnati's defense improved markedly in the season's second half, totaling 11 more sacks than it did in the first eight games and allowing 84.1 fewer yards per game.
The Giants ranked seventh in the NFL with 16 interceptions and 10th in opponents' passer rating (89.8) in Anarumo's one season with the club.
Prior to his time with the Giants, Anarumo was the Miami Dolphins' defensive backs coach from 2012-17. He also served as interim defensive coordinator for the Dolphins' final 12 games of 2015 after the team made midseason coaching staff changes.
Anarumo spent 23 seasons coaching in college. From 2004-11, he was the defensive backs coach at Purdue University, where he oversaw the development of multiple future pros.
He began his coaching career at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1989 and also coached at Wagner, Syracuse, Harvard and Marshall.
Anarumo was a fervent Giants fan growing up on Staten Island. He and his wife, Fran, have three children: Madison, Louis and Christopher.
View photos of the career of Giants head coaching candidate and Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo watches a replay during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Las Vegas. The Bengals defeated the Raiders 32-13. (Greg Trott via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo stands on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 41-21. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo watches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Jaguars 24-21. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo stands on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 41-21. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Las Vegas. The Bengals won the game 32-13. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo watches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Steelers 41-10. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Las Vegas. The Bengals won the game 32-13. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo talks with field judge Joe Blubaugh during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Cincinnati. The Packers defeated the Bengals 25-22 in overtime. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on against the New York Giants during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Cincinnati. The Giants defeated the Bengals 19-17. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Las Vegas. The Bengals won the game 32-13. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 27-3. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks up from the sideline during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 21-20. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks up from the sideline during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 21-20. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Bengals 20-17. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks up from the sideline during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 21-20. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on from the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Cincinnati. The Giants defeated the Bengals 25-23. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Cincinnati. The Giants defeated the Bengals 25-23. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks up from the sideline during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 21-20. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo during an NFL football preseason game against the New York Giants, Thursday, August 22, 2019 in Cincinnati. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is seen on the sidelines during a NFL preseason game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Landover, Md. The Bengals won 23-13. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Cincinnati. The Giants defeated the Bengals 25-23. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is seen on the sidelines during a NFL preseason game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Landover, Md. The Bengals won 23-13. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is seen on the sidelines during a NFL preseason game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Landover, Md. The Bengals won 23-13. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo works the field during voluntary football minicamp, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo works the field during voluntary football minicamp, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo walks the field during voluntary NFL football minicamp, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo works the field during voluntary football minicamp, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
FILE- In this Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 file photo, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo gives instructions to the players during NFL football practice, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, in Davie, Fla. The early reviews of the new Dolphins defensive coordinator are like the team's results during this up-and-down season: mixed. Sunday's game at Buffalo will help determine whether the defense has improved under Anarumo. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo gives instructions to the players during NFL football practice, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo points to where the ball was spotted in action against the New England Patriots Thursday October 29, 2015 in Foxboro, Mass (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo looks on from the sidelines as he watches the action on the playing field during a week 7 NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, October 19, 2014. The Dolphins defeated the Bears 27-14. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo talks on his headsets as he calls a play from the sideline during the NFL week 14 regular season football game against the New York Giants on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Giants won the game 31-24. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo looks on from the sidelines as he watches the action on the playing field during a week 7 NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, October 19, 2014. The Dolphins defeated the Bears 27-14. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo talks on his headsets on the sideline during the 2015 week 13 regular season NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins won the game 15-13. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo calls out from the sideline during the 2015 week 11 regular season NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Cowboys won the game 24-14. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo points as he calls out from the sideline during the 2015 week 11 regular season NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Cowboys won the game 24-14. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on from the sideline during the 2015 week 10 regular season NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 in Philadelphia. The Dolphins won the game 20-19. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo calls out from the sideline during the 2015 week 10 regular season NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 in Philadelphia. The Dolphins won the game 20-19. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo looks on during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, August 4, 2013, at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The Cowboys defeated the Dolphins, 24-20, in the preseason Hall of Fame game. (AP Photo/Joe Robbins)
FILE- In this Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015 file photo, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, left, chats with wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) at the teams NFL football training camp in Davie, Fla. The early reviews of the new Dolphins defensive coordinator are like the team's results during this up-and-down season: mixed. Sunday's game at Buffalo will help determine whether the defense has improved under Anarumo. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Miami Dolphins defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo, center, talks with cornerback Bobby McCain (28) and defensive back Sammy Seamster (37) at the teams NFL football training camp, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015 in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo looks on from the sidelines as he watches the action on the playing field during a week 10 NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan on Sunday, November 9, 2014. The Lions defeated the Dolphins 20-16. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
