James

Bettcher

Bettcher coincidentally coached outside linebackers for the Colts in 2012 and has since held five roles with four NFL teams since. Bettcher will attempt to improve a Colts linebacker unit that struggled to defend against the run in 2024.

The former Cardinals and Giants defensive coordinator, Bettcher spent last season in San Francisco as an assistant under DC DeMeco Ryans. Bettcher was once a name on the head-coaching interview circuit when in Arizona.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Bettcher, who served as the Giants’ defensive coordinator for two seasons after a defensive coordinator stint in Arizona, will “provide veteran assistance for new [defensive] coordinator DeMeco Ryans,” bolstering the team’s defense after losing Robert Saleh to the Jets. Bettcher had received head coaching interest from several teams in recent offseasons.

The G-Men’s coordinator from 2018-19, Bettcher was in Arizona the three years before that. It would be a low-wattage hire. The Bears are also talking with Cowboys senior defensive assistant George Edwards and Colts DBs coach Jonathan Gannon.

This was the expected move following Todd Bowles’ departure. Bettcher has only been a coach at the NFL level since 2012, when he was on Indianapolis’ staff with Bruce Arians. Prior to that, Bettcher was the special teams coordinator at New Hampshire. 37 years old, Bettcher is largely an unknown, and will be tasked with replacing one of the NFL’s most aggressive defensive minds.

Bettcher was promoted from OLBs coach to defensive coordinator after Todd Bowles departed for the Jets in 2015. The Cardinals’ defense remained an above-average unit on Bettcher’s watch, but he’s probably an unlikely candidate to succeed Bruce Arians.

Bettcher picked the Giants over the Titans after the Cardinals passed over him in favor of Steve Wilks for their head-coaching job. Bettcher had been the Cardinals’ defensive play-caller the past three seasons after Todd Bowles left to coach the Jets. The two will now work in the same home stadium for different teams. Bettcher ran a 3-4 front in Arizona, while the Giants have been a 4-3 team for years. Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul may play in more two-point stances.

The Cardinals’ coaching search is beginning to take shape. Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong and Panthers DC Steve Wilks have been granted second interviews while Steelers OL coach Mike Munchak and Vikings OC Pat Shurmur have both bowed out. Patriots LBs coach Brian Flores is also in the running to replace Bruce Arians, though he won’t be able to interview this week with New England preparing for its AFC title bout with Jacksonville. Bettcher was the first candidate the Cardinals interviewed back on January 3. Because he’s been with the team for five years, Bettcher won’t require a second interview.

He was a finalist for the Cardinals’ head-coaching job but lost out to Panthers DC Steve Wilks, who is likely to hire his own staff. Bettcher used a 3-4 scheme in Arizona and would probably have a hard time coexisting with Wilks, who ran a 4-3 base in Carolina. It shouldn’t take Bettcher long to resurface.

Bettcher has not been let go by the Cardinals, but it seems to be a fait accompli after Arizona hired Steve Wilks to be their new head coach. The coordinator since 2015, Bettcher has overseen quality defenses during his time in Arizona. He would be a good hire for either team.