Wednesday afternoon, the Cincinnati Bengals hired former Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden to the same role. Golden returns to Cincinnati, where he was the linebackers coach in 2021.
If you've ever been to the Jersey Shore, you can feel it. The breeze coming off the shore. The smells of cotton candy and funnel cakes wafting through the air. A Bruce Springsteen song playing over the loudspeakers.
"Notre Dame DC Al Golden is expected to become the Cincinnati Bengals next defensive coordinator. He’s informed Notre Dame officials of his decision," Thamel reported. Given the ties to Cincinnati with him formerly being on the staff and the prominent success with Notre Dame -- Golden's return to the Bengals mad plenty of sense.
Zac Taylor Appeal of Bengals Coach OpeningsCINCINNATI — Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden has emerged as the favorite for the Bengals defensive coordinator job. Golden and the Fighting Irish are preparing to go up against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Monday night's National Championship Game.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Drayk Bowen (34) knocks the ball away from Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) for a fumble in the fourth quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
The Bengals' defensive coordinator search appears to be coming to an end. "All signs point to Al Golden," league sources told BengalsTalk.com.Golden is one of two finalists for the job. Former Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is the other.
A 56-yard catch to Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith clinched the national championship. What Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden said about the play
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins will forgo his senior season and declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced Friday.
Al Golden agreed to return to the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator.
The Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator job has been open for more than two weeks now, but there hasn't been much movement on a possible hiring and now we know why: The team was waiting for Notre Dame to finish its season.