The Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator job has been open for greater than two weeks now, however there hasn’t been a lot motion on a potential hiring and now we all know why: The staff was ready for Notre Dame to complete its season. Cincinnati is hiring Combating Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden, CBS Sports activities/247Sports nationwide school soccer reporter Matt Zenitz experiences.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor is extraordinarily accustomed to Golden, who served because the Bengals linebackers coach for 2 seasons (2020-21) earlier than taking the defensive coordinator job at Notre Dame. Taylor’s defensive coordinator job got here open on Jan. 6 when Taylor made the choice to fireplace Lou Anarumo. Within the 16 days since then, the Bengals had solely carried out two identified interviews and each of these got here within the first 48 hours of their search. The primary one got here on Jan. 7 with former Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and the second got here on Jan. 8 with Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington.
After the Covington interview, the search went quiet, which led to loads of hypothesis that the Bengals have been ready on their perfect candidate to grow to be obtainable, and because it seems, that was the case. With Notre Dame taking part in within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship on Monday, Golden wasn’t going to be obtainable for a potential interview with the Bengals till after the sport, which the Combating Irish ended up dropping to Ohio State, 34-23.
Golden was really requested in regards to the Bengals job on Jan. 18, however he did not have a lot to say.
“It is humbling that your identify is talked about due to staff success. However, not the time or place,” Golden stated, through Fox 19.
Through the 2024 season, Notre Dame surrendered simply 14.3 factors per sport, which ranked second within the nation. The Combating Irish additionally ranked within the high 10 in whole yards surrendered, giving up a mean of simply 298.3 yards per sport.
The 55-year-old Golden left the Bengals for Notre Dame after Cincinnati’s Tremendous Bowl LVI loss, and now, he’ll depart the Combating Irish to move again to Cincinnati after a troublesome championship sport loss with Notre Dame.
The Bengals shall be getting a man with loads of teaching expertise. Golden has served as the pinnacle coach of two completely different school groups with five-year stints at each Temple and Miami (Fla.).
