Cincinnati Bengals hire Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden as defensive coordinator, according to several reports.
Golden will replace Lou Anarumo, who the Bengals shot at the end of their season. THE The Colts hired Anarumo as defensive coordinator Monday.
News of Golden’s move to Cincinnati comes two days after Notre Dame played and lost to Ohio State in Monday’s CFP National Championship Game. Golden was Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2024.
Golden returns to the Bengals, with whom he worked as linebackers coach from 2020-2021 under Zac Taylor. Taylor has been Cincinnati’s head coach since 2019. Anarumo was the defensive coordinator during Golden’s stint as linebackers coach.
A former Penn State tight end, Golden has NFL coaching experience as a linebacker (2018-19) and tight ends coach (2016-17) for the Detroit Lions. Golden previously was the head coach at the University of Miami from 2011-2015 and at Temple from 2006-2010.
Golden inherits a defense that has become a liability in Cincinnati since he served as linebackers coach on the team that advanced to the title. Super Bowl after the 2021 season.
The Bengals ranked 18th in the league in yards allowed in 2021 and intercepted Patrick Mahomes twice in Cincinnati’s AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs en route to the Super Bowl. Amid player attrition, Cincinnati’s defense has fallen to 31st in yards allowed (374.6 per game) in 2023.
The Bengals ranked 25th in yards allowed (348.3 per game) in 2024 and missed the playoffs at 9-8 despite an explosive offense led by Pro Bowlers Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Missing the playoffs in 2025 would again be considered a disappointment, but the Bengals won’t fix their defensive woes just by making a change on the sidelines.