Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Al Golden Reportedly Eyeing NFL Return

Reports of Golden being a front runner for an NFL job rolled in the second the national championship clock hit 0:00

Jan 18, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden during 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day at Georgia World Congress Center, Building A. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Rumors have been swirling about Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden returning to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Golden was the linebackers coach in Cincinnati before taking the Notre Dame defensive coordinator position in 2022. With a defensive coordinator position open with the Bengals, reports came right as Monday night's national championship game hit 0:00 that Golden is a front runner to end up back in the Queen City.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the news first.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden has emerged as a top candidate to be the #Bengals new DC, per me and @MikeGarafolo.

Coach Zac Taylor has been waiting for the National Championship to end before moving forward. Now that it has, he can speak with Golden & work thru it. pic.twitter.com/1eELIXX3Sv

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2025

Golden was asked about the report after the game and declined much of a comment, saying that the only thing he could think about was the game that was just played and memorable season that was just completed.

We will continue to follow this story as more develops in the days to come.

Nick Shepkowski's Quick Take:

As soon as the opening with the Bengals was announced it was fairly well known that Golden would be in contention for it. If I had to make a bet now it would be that Golden heads to the Bengals and that Mike Mickens is promoted from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator.

That would however leave a hole on Notre Dame's staff of having an assistant coach with head coach experience, which was wanted for Freeman in his first season of 2022. Freeman has of course grown as a head coach, but enough to not employ another former head coach is something we'll certainly discuss.

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