Cincinnati Bengals linebackers coach Al Golden is leaving the team to serve as Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator in 2022.
Golden recently agreed to a three-year deal to work under head coach Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame. He has a decade of college coaching experience with stints at Miami and Temple and has previously built a reputation as a savvy recruiter in the Northeast.
Golden’s tenure on the Bengals will come to an end after just two years in Cincinnati.
BREAKING: Al Golden is expected to be named Notre Dame’s next defensive coordinator, a source tells The Athletic. https://t.co/0B9vysvn3U
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) February 15, 2022
Prior to joining the Bengals in 2020, Golden coached linebackers and tight ends with the Detroit Lions.
Golden was a key member of the coaching staff that oversaw Cincinnati’s 2021 Super Bowl run, and he was instrumental in the development of Bengals’ linebackers.
Cincinnati Bengals will lose linebackers coach Al Golden this offseason
Under Golden, Logan Wilson grew to be one of the league’s best defenders, and other young players like Markus Bailey have improved at the linebacker position as well.
Together, Lou Anarumo and Golden helped forge an elite defense capable of reaching the Super Bowl — and reach the Super Bowl they did.
It’s a shame Golden’s time in Cincinnati has to end so soon, but he’s more than qualified to coach the Fighting Irish. Golden has already become a bit of a college coaching legend after orchestrating an incredible turnaround at Temple University, where he has been inducted in the school’s Hall of Fame.
When Golden took over at Temple, the school had just been kicked out of the Big East. Golden and the Owls ended up in the Mid-American Conference and went 17-8 in Golden’s final two years.
The Cincinnati Bengals will be sorry to see him go, but it seems Golden’s heart lies in college football. Nonetheless, he will be sorely missed.