Notre Dame DC Al Golden is favorite for NFL job after national championship loss

On January 23, 2025By Littum

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 on Monday.

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

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

So they get their best choice.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) 21 January 2025

Golden was the Bengals’ linebackers coach from 2020 to ’21 before leaving for Notre Dame in 2022. He has head coaching experience, most notably at the University of Miami, which he coached from 2011 to ’15. Prior to leading the Hurricanes, he was the head coach of the Temple Owls from 2006 to ’10.

The Bengals were waiting for Golden as Notre Dame officially ended their season on Monday night. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported late Monday, 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.