NFL Rumors: Bengals Eye Notre Dame's Al Golden for DC Opening After CFP Title Loss

By Scott Polacek

NFL Rumors: Bengals Eye Notre Dame's Al Golden for DC Opening After CFP Title Loss

A Cincinnati Bengals homecoming could be in the works for Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden.

Albert Breer of The MMQB reported Tuesday that the AFC North team is planning to interview Golden within the next 48 hours as it waits "for the dust to clear" following Notre Dame's loss to Ohio State in Monday's College Football Playoff national championship game.

Breer noted the Bengals also plan to hire him "if everything goes to plan."

Cincinnati needs a new defensive coordinator after firing Lou Anarumo following a disappointing 2024 campaign. The team missed the playoffs despite excellent seasons from quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase in large part because of a defense that finished 25th in the league in yards and points allowed per game.

Anarumo was the D.C. for the 2021 Bengals team that reached the Super Bowl, but the front office felt it was time for a change.

And that could mean bringing back a familiar face who was also on that Super Bowl staff.

Golden was the linebackers coach for Cincinnati for two seasons in 2020 and 2021. The team went from 4-11-1 in his first year to AFC champions in his second, and he could once again have the chance to lead a defensive turnaround after it missed the playoffs in 2024.

The defensive coach was on the Detroit Lions' staff for the four seasons prior to joining the Bengals, but he is best known for his time in the college game. Golden was the head coach of Temple for five seasons from 2005-10 and Miami for five seasons from 2011-15 and went 59-59 overall.

He was 32-25 with the Hurricanes but failed to win a single bowl game during his tenure.

Notre Dame hired him as its D.C. before the 2022 season, meaning he has been with Marcus Freeman for all three years of the latter's tenure as head coach. The Fighting Irish were one of the most impressive stories in college football this season and rallied from a stunning September loss to Northern Illinois to reach the CFP at 11-1.

They also defeated Indiana, Georgia and Penn State in the CFP before falling short against the Buckeyes in the national title game. Their defense was the strong suit of their team and finished fourth in the country in points allowed per game.

Cincinnati was surely impressed by the defensive effort from Notre Dame this past season and reportedly plans to bring him in to help fix its defense.

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