Lou Anarumo elected as new defensive coordinator for Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday named New York Giants secondary coach Lou Anarumo their new defensive coordinator. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor worked with Anarumo when both coached in Miami.

"I've always had great respect for Lou, and I know he is a tremendous defensive coach," Taylor said in a statement. "He's a great fit for what we want to build here in Cincinnati. Lou is an excellent communicator who the players will have great respect for, and he will get the best out of them." Anarumo, 52, spent last season coaching the Giants and was in Miami from 2012-17. Anarumo and Taylor were made interim coordinators after the dismissal of head coach Joe Philbin with 12 games to go in the 2015 season.

Prior to his stint in Miami, Anarumo was a college coach for 20 seasons, kicking off his coaching career as defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy from 1992-94. It was an exhaustive search for the Bengals.

College defensive coordinators Jeff Hafley (Ohio State) and Todd Grantham (Florida) both turned down the opportunity. The New Orleans Saints wouldn't allow their defensive backs coach, Aaron Glenn, to interview. Veteran NFL head coaches and coordinators Dom Capers, Jack Del Rio and Vance Joseph were considered but weren't believed to be a good fit for the job.

The Bengals also interviewed former Falcons coordinator Marquand Manuel and Rams assistant Aubrey Pleasant.