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What Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden said about Cincinnati Bengals DC job

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•01/07/25•

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Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden. (Photo by Tyler Horka)

DANIA BEACH, Fla. — As usual, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden was all business Tuesday afternoon during his press opportunity at the Orange Bowl.

Asked about his time as the head coach at Miami (2011-15)? Long time ago. He’s at Notre Dame now. Asked about his time as a Penn State tight end (1988-91) and linebackers coach (2000)? Even longer ago. He’s at Notre Dame now.

But what about the Cincinnati Bengals’ vacant defensive coordinator position? Golden was there as the linebackers coach from 2020-21. He went with them to the Super Bowl in the latter of those two seasons. He was named by Paul Dehner Jr. of the The Athletic as a candidate for that opening on Monday.

Blue & Gold asked him about it Tuesday. He brushed it aside as Golden typically does when asked about himself, especially when it’s something that doesn’t have anything to do with the team he’s coaching and the goals that squad has set out for themselves.

“Look, it took us 30 years to get to this point here,” Golden said. “I’m not worried about anything else but how to stop Penn State. And I mean that. Two really good backs. A tight end that is dominant. We just talked about the quarterback and a scheme that is really, really challenging. That’s the only thing we’re focused on right now.”

Blue & Gold also asked if the Bengals have contacted him.

“I’ve talked to nobody,” Golden said. “I can’t even get out of the facility right now. We just had the shortest week of the year.”

Notre Dame held Georgia to 10 points in the Sugar Bowl, which was tied for the fewest amount of points put on the board by UGA all season. Golden’s unit held the Bulldogs to 2 of 15 combined on third and fourth downs, too. Backup quarterback Gunner Stockton was sacked 4 times and including the yardage lost on those QB takedowns, Georgia finished with 62 rushing yards for the entire game.

It was yet another clinical performance for Golden’s Notre Dame defense in a long line of them since he arrived in South Bend after his two-year stint with the Bengals. The Irish currently have the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense and No. 5 passing defense in terms of points and yards through the air allowed per game, respectively.

Without Golden’s leadership of this Notre Dame defense, the Irish likely wouldn’t be two games away from winning a national championship. It’s imperative for head coach Marcus Freeman and Co. to work on retaining him this offseason, whether it starts Friday or on Jan. 21 after the national title game in Atlanta. I

If it’s the latter, you know Golden would have played a part in what happened Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium against his alma mater to make that reality.

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