Al Golden’s potential successor gets massive endorsement from former NFL safety for Notre Dame DC job

Notre Dame is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory. But not only did they lose the College Football Playoff National Championship, they’re now losing an integral part of what made the team so successful in 2024.

Defensive coordinator Al Golden is headed to the Cincinnati Bengals to take on the same role. It was heavily rumored just before the national title game against Ohio State that Golden was a frontrunner for the position after the Bengals fired Lou Anarumo. Golden had been the Bengals’ linebackers coach from 2020-2021, so his success with the Fighting Irish over the last three years, along with his ties to the team, made him an obvious choice.

Now, the question is: who will Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman choose as his new defensive coordinator? Golden was the only defensive coordinator Freeman has had since becoming head coach, making the decision a tall task for the young coach.

On3's Tyler Horka says the choice to replace Golden is "in plain sight," suggesting that defensive backs coach Mike Mickens should take over the role.

Mickens has received more than just one endorsement. Former NFL safety and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark expressed his belief that Mickens is the right successor to Golden.

"Al Golden is an amazing coach," Clark said on X. "The defense this year in South Bend is another example on his resume of his excellence, & I can’t think of a more worthy successor than Mike Mickens. I’m so grateful to both these men for the way they poured into Jordan Clark."

Clark, who played at LSU in college and spent 13 years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders, and New York Giants, winning a Super Bowl title with the Steelers, has a personal connection to Mickens. His son, Jordan, a safety, transferred to Notre Dame from Arizona State this past season. So, Clark has likely seen firsthand what kind of coach Mickens is and what he can become.

If Mickens is indeed the choice to replace Golden, he’ll have his work cut out for him. Golden leaves the unit in good standing, but the bar is set high, with great expectations.

The Fighting Irish defense was ranked 3rd in scoring (15.5), 10th in yards allowed (307.8), 9th in yards per play (4.6), and 7th in takeaways per game (2.1). Keeping it in-house by promoting Mickens could be a good move for Freeman and Notre Dame. It would maintain stability and allow the team to operate on much of the same defensive scheme that Golden implemented.