INDIANAPOLIS – An extensive process is being relied on as the Indianapolis Colts look to retool their defense.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the team has interviewed at least four individuals with extensive coordinator experience for its vacant position. The Colts did not retain Gus Bradley at the end of last season after his three-year tenure.
In the mix: Dennis Allen, Wink Martindale, Steve Wilks and Lou Anarumo. The source confirmed a “few other” candidates include Ephram Banda, the Cleveland Browns’ safeties coach the past three seasons.
Although the process remains fluid, the Colts hope to finalize their coordinator hire sometime next week.
Allen, 52, was interviewed Friday and has spent the last 10 seasons in New Orleans. He was the Saints’ head coach from 2022 until being fired after their 2-7 start last season. Prior to that, Allen was their creative, blitzing coordinator for seven seasons.
His deep NFL resume includes serving as the Raiders head coach from 2012-14 and Denver’s defensive coordinator in 2011.
Anarumo, 58, was Cincinnati’s coordinator the past six seasons but wasn’t retained after the Bengals endured defensive slippage season. It allowed 25.5 points per game (tied-7th most in the league) and 348.3 yards (No. 25) despite featuring league sack leader Trey Hendrickson (17.5).
The 61-year-old Martindale was Michigan’s defensive coordinator last season after a 20-year NFL career as an assistant with the Raiders, Denver, Baltimore and the New York Giants. He was the Giants’ aggressive coordinator from 2022-23, handled the same responsibilities with the Ravens from 2018-21 and was the Broncos’ coordinator in 2010.
Also, Martindale was a serious candidate for the Colts’ head coaching position that ultimately went to Shane Steichen during the 2023 offseason. He went through two formal interviews.
Wilks, 55, has been head/interim coach with two franchises (Carolina and Arizona), was the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator when they reached Super Bowl LVIII and the Panthers’ secondary coach when they advanced to Super Bowl 50.
Bradley’s departure was expected after owner Jim Irsay chose to move into 2025 with general manager Chris Ballard and Steichen.
During Bradley’s three seasons, the Colts ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in several significant categories: No. 30 in points allowed (24.9 per game), No. 24 in total yards (348.3), No. 25 against the run (126.6) and No. 31 in completion percentage (67.5).
The defense generated 131 sacks in three seasons – 12th-most in the league – and that included an Indy-era record 51 in 2023. However, that number slipped to 36 last season, in part because leading sacker Samson Ebukam suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in training camp.
Bradley’s zone-heavy approach frequently was criticized but also was compromised by the lack of veteran additions at cornerback and safety and another injury-plagued season by JuJu Brents.
“At the end of the day,’’ Ballard said last week, “I did not give them enough.’’
He added he’ll offer input on the process, but Steichen would “make the hire.
“We’ll have some good candidates for the job.’’
One of the apparent prerequisites will be bringing in a more aggressive coordinator.
“I definitely think there is value,’’ Ballard said. “You have to be able to affect the quarterback.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.