Well, shortly after the Irish lost to Ohio State, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Golden is a “top candidate” for the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator position, as they waited out for Notre Dame season to end.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden may have coached his last game with the Irish on Monday night. Golden is a top candidate to be the Bengals’ new defensive coordinator, according to NFL Network.

The next Bengals defensive coordinator has to be on board with adding a player like Hill, despite having Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell on the roster. He has to have a plan in place for that top pick and make sure that the player gets on the field to develop.

CINCINNATI — The Bengals' defensive coordinator search appears to be coming to an end. "All signs point to Al Golden," league sources told BengalsTalk.com. Golden is one of two finalists for the job. Former Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is the other.

Yes, it’s the same role that he currently holds with the Irish, but clearly at the highest level. When asked about potentially making the move, Golden was very coy about what his intentions were, saying “at the end of the day, this is not the time or the place,” as reported by On3’s Pete Nakos.

Could Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden be leaving the program and become the new Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator? According to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garo

Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Al Golden Reacts to Receiving Interest From Bengals Ahead of National Championship. Golden and the Fighting Irish play the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday night.

Al Golden's defense entered the CFP national championship with the second-best scoring defense in the FBS, trailing only Ohio State. The defense's performance in 2024 put Golden in a position to land an NFL job after the season. Per multiple reports, Golden is expected to be a finalist for the defensive coordinator job with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Moments after the national championship ended, reports came out linking Al Golden to the Cincinnati Bengals DC job.

The Cincinnati Bengals seem like a team with eyes for Al Golden as the next defensive coordinator, at least once he wraps up his season with Notre Dame on Monday night in the title game. Golden, though, has previously shot down the idea of joining the Bengals due to his focus on Notre Dame’s College Football playoff push.

The Cincinnati Bengals will be closely watching the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship for one key reason. This past season, the Bengals had a special year, though not a good year. Quarterback Joe Burrow played at an MVP level while Ja'Marr Chase was the NFL 's leading receiver.