Where the Bengals stand with their defensive coordinator search one week after firing Lou Anarumo

All's been quiet of late for the Cincinnati Bengals as a search for a new defensive coordinator rolls on into a second week.

The Bengals let go of Lou Anarumo last Monday and at least four of his assistants are out the door as well. Senior defensive assistant Mark Duffner and defensive quality control coach Louie Cioffi were recently confirmed part of the turnover along with defensive line coach Marion Hobby and linebackers coach James Bettcher.

Let's catch you up on everything you need to know as a new week begins:

Two confirmed interviews thus far for Cincy

Reports of two interviews came out a day after Anarumo's firing. Up first was Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham, a DC for the past six seasons and three separate teams. He was a holdover from Josh McDaniels' staff in Vegas and his contract is now up. He got his NFL coaching start during the heart of the Bill Belichick era with the New England Patriots. He was a defensive assistant for seven years under Belichick, manning multiple roles during that time.

The next reported interview was another Belichick disciple in New England DC Demarcus Covington. A younger candidate compared to Graham, Covington was hired by Jerod Mayo as his DC for the 2024 season after the two spent five years coaching together under Belichick. Covington was hired by the Pats all the way back in 2017 as an assistant and took over as the outside linebackers coach in 2019. He coached the defensive line from 2020-23 before taking his promotion alongside Mayo.

There have been no other interviews reported following Covington as the search remains quite a secret.  

Some big fish aren't in consideration

Two popular names for the job were former defensive-minded head coaches Robert Saleh and Dennis Allen. A report from BengalsTalk.com's James Rapien alluded to the Bengals not pursuing those names.

"What about former NFL head coaches that are proven defensive coordinators like Robert Saleh or Dennis Allen? It doesn't sound like the Bengals will go that route. That doesn't mean they haven't discussed Allen or Saleh, but they aren't expected to interview either coach at this point." - BengalsTalk.com's James Rapien

Saleh and Allen were fired during this past season by the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectively. Saleh was formerly the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, whereas Allen was New Orleans' DC and the head coach of the then Oakland Raiders before taking over the Saints.

One former head coach "involved"

Saleh and Allen may not be in the cards, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Friday that former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is "involved" in the Bengals' search for a DC.

Eberflus was hired back in 2022 by Chicago and was fired this past November. He'll b remembered most for his poor game management, but his defense in Chicago was usually solid like it was at his previous stop. His four years running the Indianapolis Colts' defense ranked 12th in EPA/play allowed and allowed the fourth-lowest EPA/rush from 2018-21.

Fowler's report didn't make it clear if Eberflus has had or has scheduled an interview yet, but his name is by far the biggest in the search thus far.