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Al Golden to leave Notre Dame for DC position with Cincinnati Bengals, per report
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Al Golden is reportedly on the move after 3 seasons at Notre Dame.
Multiple outlets, including ESPN, are reporting that Golden has informed Notre Dame that he is leaving his post with the Irish to be the new defensive coordinator with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.
Sources: Notre Dame DC Al Golden is expected to become the Cincinnati Bengals next defensive coordinator. He’s informed Notre Dame officials of his decision. pic.twitter.com/IKjXJ1rTtE
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 22, 2025
Golden, 55, was a head coach at Temple (2006-10) and Miami (2011-15). Since he was dismissed by UM, he has bounced back and forth as an assistant between the NFL and college.
Golden’s first post-Miami gig was with the Detroit Lions. He was the club’s tight ends coach and then shifted to linebackers coach. He was hired by the Bengals as the linebackers coach in 2020.
In 2022, Marcus Freeman hired Golden as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach on his Notre Dame staff. The Irish were strong defensively under Golden. The 2024 squad finished No. 1 in FEI defensive efficiency ratings and was No. 4 nationally in scoring defense, with 15.5 points allowed per game. Notre Dame allowed 3 or more touchdowns only 4 times in 2024 (Louisville, USC, Penn State, Ohio State).
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
