The Colts are hiring the former Bengals assistant in a similar role
According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Indianapolis Colts are hiring former Cincinnati Bengals defensive assistant James Bettcher as their linebackers coach.
The #Colts are hiring James Bettcher as their linebackers coach, per source.
An experienced hire for new DC Lou Anarumo, who had Bettcher in the same position the past three years in Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/JJnnjDAJaC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 26, 2025
The move comes a few days after the Colts hired former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo as their new defensive coordinator. The two had spent the past 3 seasons in Cincinnati, both in the same role they are taking on in Indianapolis.
Bettcher was previously a defensive coordinator in Arizona for 3 seasons from 2015 to 2017, and New York (with the Giants) for 2 seasons in 2018 and 2019. He previously spent one season in Indianapolis in 2012 as an outside linebackers coach. In 2018 in New York, the two of them were also on the same staff with Bettcher as the defensive coordinator and Anarumo as the defensive backs coach. Between the end of his Giants stint and before his Bengals stint, he took a year off during the 2020 Covid season and then was a senior defensive assistant with the 49ers in 2021.
The Colts finished last season towards the bottom in many statistical categories, including 24th in points allowed, 29th in yards allowed, and 24th in sacks amongst other categories. Anarumo and Bettcher saw success in a couple of Bengals playoff runs where the team’s defense drove a lot of their success, but they struggled mightily last season which led to their firings.
There are still a few more coaches to hire on the defensive side, plus the team still needs to confirm if some of the current coaches on staff are being retained.
The move to bring Bettcher brings another experienced coach on staff, as Anarumo has previous coordinator experience, as does Bettcher and Charlie Partridge is a former NCAA head coach and defensive coordinator. Bettcher had great success in Arizona as their defensive coordinator, consistently ranking in the top 10 and was even considered a potential successor to Bruce Arians when he retired. Bettcher will be tasked with coaching Zaire Franklin as well as young upstart linebacker Jaylon Carliess. The other starter from last season, EJ Speed, is an unrestricted free agent and returning to the Colts is far from guaranteed for next season.