Notre Dame DC Al Golden the Favorite for NFL Job After National Title Loss

The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly ready to bring in Al Golden for their defensive coordinator opening.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden during 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden is on the heels of an NFL job after the Fighting Irish lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday.

According to a report from Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Cincinnati Bengals plan to bring in Golden for an interview within the next 48 hours. Golden is the Bengals' top choice to replace their former DC Lou Anarumo, whom the team parted with shortly after their season ended.

Sources: The Bengals are waiting for the dust to clear on Notre Dame’s season, but plan is to bring Irish DC Al Golden in for an interview in the next 48 hours and—if everything goes to plan—hire him as their next defensive coordinator.

So they’ll get their top choice.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 21, 2025

Golden was the Bengals' linebackers coach from 2020 to '21 before he departed for Notre Dame in 2022. He has head coaching experience, most notably with the University of Miami, whom he coached from 2011 to '15. Before leading the Hurricanes, he was the head coach of the Temple Owls from 2006 to '10.

The Bengals waited on Golden as Notre Dame officially wrapped up their season Monday night. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported late Monday that Bengals head coach Zac Taylor waited for the national championship game to end so he can speak with Golden. Now that the college season is behind us, it's all systems go to bring Golden back to Cincinnati.

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