Just moments after Notre Dame lost to Ohio State 34-23 in the National Championship Game, Mike Garafolo reported that Zac Taylor and the Bengals are eyeing Golden for their defensive coordinator job.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish made a splashy hire to replace Al Golden as their next offensive coordinator by bringing in Chris Ash. The former head coach at Rutgers has been everywhere, man, including a notable run with Ohio State previously.

Notre Dame’s Al Golden “has emerged as a top candidate to be the Bengals new [defensive coordinator]," NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported after the Irish fell to Ohio State in Monday’s National Championship. Zac Taylor was waiting for Notre Dame’s season to end before approaching Golden about the opening, Rapoport said.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor introduces new defensive coordinator Al Golden at Paycor Stadium. Golden was hired last week after the Bengals fired former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Anarumo is now the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.

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The Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator job has been open for more than two weeks now, but there hasn't been much movement on a possible hiring and now we know why: The team was waiting for Notre Dame to finish its season.

Al Golden agreed to return to the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator.

The Cincinnati Bengals made the hire of Al Golden as the team's new defensive coordinator official on Thursday afternoon. Head coach Zac Taylor fired Lou Anarumo immediately after the season and held a limited search in hiring his replacement. It was clear from the begining that Taylor wanted to hire Golden for the position.

Just moments after Notre Dame lost to Ohio State 34-23 in the National Championship Game, Mike Garafolo reported that Zac Taylor and the Bengals are eyeing Golden for their defensive coordinator job.

The Cincinnati Bengals continued their busy offseason with the introduction of newly-hired defensive coordinator, Al Golden, formerly of Notre Dame.

Al Golden agreed to return to Cincinnati on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced. More: 3 Wolverines, 3 ex-Spartans make ESPN list of top 100 college football players from '24-25

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish lost Monday, but Al Golden is favored to be the Bengals' defensive coordinator this week.