The Colts want to interview Dennis Allen for the post of defensive coordinator after firing Gus Bradley last week, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Allen was fired as the Saints’ head coach in November following seven consecutive losses, but his time in New Orleans saw major defensive improvements. In 2024, the Colts’ defense was in the bottom ten in terms of scores and yards allowed, so they may expect a similar turnaround under Allen.
When Allen joined the Saints as a senior defensive coach under Sean Payton in 2015, their defense was one of the worst in the NFL. During the season, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and helped lift the team out of the cellar. The Saints had a top-five defense in 2020 and 2021, earning Allen a promotion to head coach. He maintained that standard, finishing in the top ten in points allowed in 2022 and 2023, while the Saints surrendered the third most yards in 2024.
Allen would bring a more aggressive defense to Indianapolis than Bradley and his predecessor, Matt Eberflus. The Colts have already indicated that they are open to such an approach.
“I definitely think there is value,” said general manager Chris Ballard when questioned about such a shift by ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “You’ve got to be able to affect the quarterback.”
The Colts’ other defensive coordinator candidates have likewise suggested a shift in their defensive philosophy. They have already questioned Ephraim Banda, who coached safeties in Jim Schwartz’s aggressive Browns defense, and they intend to interview former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, both of whom have a history of calling blitz-heavy defensive plays.
