Notre Dame’s Al Golden drops telling comments on Bengals job speculation ahead of CFP National Championship

Notre Dame has been all over the headlines as they prepare to face Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship. While head coach Marcus Freeman has drawn interest from the NFL, specifically the Chicago Bears, he’s not the only member of the Fighting Irish coaching staff linked to a potential move to the pros. Defensive coordinator Al Golden has also been making waves, with reports suggesting he’s emerged as a favorite for the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator position.

Golden, who joined Notre Dame in 2022, is no stranger to the NFL. He previously served as the Bengals linebackers coach from 2020-2021, working under head coach Zac Taylor. During that time, Golden played a key role in developing Cincinnati’s defense, which became a vital component of their run to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season. Before that, Golden was the head coach roles in college football, of the Miami Hurricanes from 2011-2015, but was widely regarded for his work in rebuilding Temple’s football program earlier in his career.

With the NFL calling once again, Golden addressed the speculation during media day for Monday night’s championship game.

"It's humbling that your name is mentioned because of team success or the success of our defense," Golden said, per Jeremy Rauch of FOX19. "This is not the time or place. This is about the kids ... The biggest thing for us right now is understanding the enormity of this game."

Golden emphasized that his full attention remains on helping Notre Dame compete for its first national title since 1988.

“That's our focus,” Golden continued. “All of that other stuff, we'll deal with in the future.”

For now, Golden remains focused on the task at hand. Monday night’s showdown with Ohio State represents a culmination of his work with Notre Dame’s defense, which has been instrumental in the team’s journey to the national championship game.

What the future holds for Golden remains uncertain. However, Notre Dame fans may want to take it all in and enjoy one last game with their defensive coordinator.