5 dream scenarios for Bengals in 2023 season
By John Buhler
3. Lou Anarumo and Brian Callahan get what they deserve, become NFL head coaches in 2024
This is the one I’m probably rooting for the hardest to happen. One of the reasons why I am so incredibly high on the Bengals this year is the fact Cincinnati returns both of its top-flight coordinators in Lou Anarumo and Brian Callahan. Aranumo nearly got the Arizona Cardinals gig, while Callahan was very much in the mix to get the Indianapolis Colts job. This is their season.
Even if Anarumo lost one of his best players off last year’s defense in Jessie Bates III to my Atlanta Falcons, he’s kind of a proven commodity as a defensive coordinator. With his semi-regular appearances on The Pat McAfee Show, his national profile is now to the level where it would be criminal if he didn’t get to lead his own team in 2024. His next trip on the carousel will be his last.
As for Callahan, he does have coaching pedigree on his side. I mean, Zac Taylor played for his father Bill at Nebraska. No, this isn’t nepotism, as Brian Callahan has quickly emerged as one of the savviest devisers of the passing game in the league today. He was still a tad too green to get his own team last year. With a larger amount of openings, he will get one if there are at least six.
These departures may hurt the Bengals in 2024, but I think everyone is pulling for them as well.