Pro Football Network Ranks Al Golden 14th Among NFL's Defensive Coordinators

Trying to make an early impact.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor introduced new defensive coordinator Al Golden at Paycor Stadium on Jan. 27, 2025. | Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — The team at Pro Football Network is bullish on Al Golden's skill as a new NFL defensive coordinator. The site ranked him 14th among all DCs leaguewide ahead of the 2025 season.

Golden is trying to carry over success from his time as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator.

"Al Golden has seen most of his coaching success come at the collegiate level," the article noted. "He was a tremendous defensive coordinator for Notre Dame in 2024, leading them to the national championship game. The Cincinnati Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, giving Golden quite a challenge in his first NFL defensive coordinator role. Given how well Notre Dame’s defense has performed in the previous three seasons, he could eventually help them return to playing at a high level. It just might take some time."

Tutelage is at the top of the ledger for Golden this year. Cincinnati has plenty of young defensive pieces that need to get aligned and rowing in the right direction.

Golden is the maestro behind that after the Bengals struggled mightily to develop defensive talent under Lou Anarumo. The new DC did a nice job building up the Bengals' linebacker room in 2020 and 2021.

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