Al Golden, who had a 32-25 record as the Miami head coach from 2011 through 2015, is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals as defensive coordinator. Golden was the Cincinnati linebackers coach in 2022 and 2023. Before becoming a coach, Golden was a tight end at Penn State from 1988 through 1991.
Golden played his only season in the National Football League with the New England Patriots during the 1992 season. Before becoming a college graduate assistant coach, Golden was the offensive coordinator at Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey.
Virginia head coach George Welsh hired Golden as a graduate assistant in 1994, where he remained through 1996. Golden left Virginia to become the linebackers coach at Boston from 1997 through 1999 and he returned to his alma mater Penn State in the same position in 2000. Golden returned to Virginia from 2001-2005 as defensive coordinator.
Golden was 27-34 in five seasons at Temple, including a 17-8 record in his final two seasons before being hired by Miami. The tenure of Golden began under probation as a result of the Nevin Shapiro scandal. Miami was not eligible for a bowl game until Golden's third season and had scholarship limitations.
Sources: Notre Dame DC Al Golden is expected to become the Cincinnati Bengals next defensive coordinator. He’s informed Notre Dame officials of his decision. pic.twitter.com/IKjXJ1rTtE
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 22, 2025
Miami fired Golden after a 58-0 loss to Clemson in 2015 that dropped the Hurricanes to 4-3. Golden spent the next four seasons on the staff of the Detroit Lions. In his first two seasons with Detroit, Golden was the tight ends coach and he was the LBs coach in his last two seasons with the Lions before going to Cincinnati.
Notre Dame hired Golden as defensive coordinator in 2022 to replace Marcus Freeman, who was elevated to head coach when Brian Kelly left for LSU. Golden led a Notre Dame defense that finished in the Top 25 nationally in yards allowed and in scoring and total defense in all three seasons he was the coordinator.
Golden replaces Lou Anarumo, who was the Cincinnati defensive coordinator when Golden coached linebackers. After a porous defense in the first season with Golden as LBs coach in his initial stint with Cincinnati, the Bengals finished fifth in run defense in 2021, as they finished 10-7 and lost Superbowl LVI to the Los Angeles Rams.
Cincinnati had a porous defense in 2024. The Bengals finished 25th in total defense and points allowed in 2024. On the other side of the ball, Cincinnati finished sixth in scoring in 2024 and ninth in total yards. The Bengals' defense kept them from making the playoffs. With Joe Burrow at QB, Cincinnati needs a defense that helps put them in a position to win.