The Cincinnati Bengals are bringing back Al Golden as their new defensive coordinator to improve a defense that struggled last season.
The Cincinnati Bengals are finalizing a deal to hire Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden for the same role on Zac Taylor’s coaching staff, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Golden will replace Lou Anarumo, who served as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator for six seasons and is now taking the same role with the Indianapolis Colts.
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Al Golden, 55, has been coaching since 1993 and brings plenty of experience to the Bengals.
He’s known for turning around Temple’s football program, taking them from an 0-11 team in 2005 to a 9-4 team with a bowl game appearance just four years later.
Golden also coached at the University of Miami from 2011 to 2015, but the team had mixed results, going 32-25 before he and the Hurricanes parted ways.
Golden transitioned to the NFL as a position coach with the Detroit Lions, working with tight ends (2016-2017) and linebackers (2018-2019).
He joined the Bengals as their linebackers coach in 2020 and 2021 before leaving to become Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2022.
Notre Dame’s defense shined under Golden, finishing seventh in points allowed in 2023 and fifth in 2024.
The Fighting Irish went 14-2 in 2024 and finished as the national runner-up to Ohio State.
The Bengals are now bringing Golden back to Cincinnati, hoping he can improve a defense that ranked 25th in both scoring and yards allowed last season.
His experience and recent success at Notre Dame could be just what the Bengals need to turn things around.
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