The Cincinnati Bengals moved on from multiple players and coaches on defense in 2024, and they've found new homes with other teams in the NFL.
Lou Anarumo, the defensive coordinator for the Bengals from 2019 to 2024, and in that span, his units ranked around the middle of the pack defensively. But in 2024 and 2023, the defense struggled a ton, leading the Bengals to let him go after six seasons.
Anarumo joined the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff as their defensive coordinator, and there, he's helped the Colts start strong at 4-1. Ahead of week 6, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Colts are bringing in a former Bengals linebacker who played under Anarumo the entire time he was in Cincinnati.
The Colts sign a veteran linebacker to a one-year deal to reunite with Lou Anarumo
Pelissero reports that Germain Pratt, who was recently released by the Las Vegas Raiders, is signing with the Colts to reunite with Anarumo. Pratt had multiple teams vying for him in free agency, but he decided to stick with Anarumo in Indianapolis.
Veteran LB Germaine Pratt has agreed to a one-year deal with the #Colts, per me and @RapSheet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 8, 2025
Four other teams called with interest, but Pratt really wanted to reunited with his former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo in Indy. pic.twitter.com/OtQdZ6smqw
Pratt played six seasons in Cincinnati, perfectly overlapping with Anarumo's time as the defensive coordinator. They'll now reunite to help the 4-1 Colts maintain their AFC South lead and make the playoffs.
The 29-year-old linebacker played in four games with the Raiders before he didn't travel with the team for Week 5. In those four games, he had two passes defended with 25 combined tackles and one tackle for loss.
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In his six years with the Bengals defense, under Anarumo, Pratt had 616 tackles with 32 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries, seven forced fumbles, 23 passes defended, and seven interceptions in 96 games.
His last year with the Bengals was a solid one, as he had two interceptions, six passes defended, and a career-high 143 tackles. In the playoffs for the Bengals, he had an interception during the 2021 postseason run, and in seven games, he's made 49 combined tackles and has four passes defended.
Pratt was a solid linebacker for the Bengals, and while they let him walk after 2024, just like they moved on from Anarumo, the two are now reunited in Indianapolis on a team that looks to be on the upswing.
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