Black Monday has come for the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff.
The Bengals have fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, offensive line coach Frank Pollack, linebacker coach James Bettcher, and defrnsive line coach Marion Hobby per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
"The Bengals have parted ways with DC Lou Anarumo, OL coach Frank Pollack, LB coach James Bettcher, and DL coach Marion Hobby," Schultz wrote to X.
Someone had to pay the piper for the Bengals having missed the playoffs for a second straight season despite an MVP-level campaign from quarterback Joe Burrow and a triple crown from wideout Ja'Marr Chase.
Clearly the offense was functioning, so there's nobody else to blame for the shortcomings other than the defense, which allowed the seventh-most points in football this season.
Anarumo served as the Bengals' defensive coordinator since 2019 and earned praise for his intricate schemes. His defense gained attention for its success against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in some of the classic meetings between the rivals.
But in recent years, the defense's performance declined. In 2023, the Bengals ranked No. 31 overall in yards allowed, and the 2024 season showed little-to-no improvement as the Bengals started off on the wrong foot this season and it became too little, too late.
This story is being updated...
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