Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden may have wrapped up his tenure with the Irish on Monday night.
According to NFL Network, Golden has emerged as a leading candidate for the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator position.
The Bengals reportedly identified Golden as a strong contender for the role but waited until Notre Dame completed its College Football Playoff National Championship Game before making their interest public.
If hired, this would mark Golden’s return to Cincinnati, where he served as the Bengals’ linebackers coach from 2020 to 2021. Before that, he spent four years on the Detroit Lions’ coaching staff.
Golden is widely recognized for his decade-long career as a college head coach, with successful stints at Temple and Miami.
At 55, Golden brings a wealth of football experience, including a brief stint as an NFL player. He signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted rookie tight end in 1992, though he never played in a regular-season game.
