BREAKING: Cincinnati Bengals Coaching Target Makes Statement Before Notre Dame’s National Championship Game

The Cincinnati Bengals were among the most interesting teams during the 2024 NFL regular season, despite narrowly missing the postseason.

Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who is now up for a contract extension, led the league in receiving while Joe Burrow was among the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL.

Still, Cincinnati started the season 1-4 and finished the season 9-8. Their defense posed too big of an issue to take away from the big impact the offense was able to make.

The Bengals have a defensive coordinator opening on Zac Taylor’s staff this offseason, and they are slow playing a hire as they are at the beginning of what will be a decisive offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals Coaching Target Makes Statement Before Notre Dame’s National Championship Game - NewsBreak

One candidate for the job with experience coaching alongside Taylor is Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden, who is set to coach in the national championship against Ohio State on Monday.

All signs point toward Golden being the next Bengals defensive coordinator, though he gave a cryptic answer regarding the opening ahead of the national championship.

“It’s humbling that your name is mentioned because of team success,” Golden said during Notre Dame’s pregame press conference on Saturday. “But, not the time or place.”

Al Golden at the podium in Atlanta.

On drawing NFL interest: “It’s humbling that your name is mentioned because of team success. But, not the time or place.”

Also praised Zac Taylor for what he learned working with him during his time in Cincinnati.#Bengals @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/Up3FYP3gIl

— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) January 18, 2025

It was quite a cryptic answer for Golden, who is looking to stop an elite Ohio State offensive to determine a national champion.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is getting head coaching looks himself, though Golden seems to have Taylor and the Bengals heavily pursuing him for their defensive coordinator vacancy.

Cincinnati desperately needs defensive help, and Golden might just be the ideal hire and could certainly join the staff at the conclusion of the college football season (and plenty of thought about the job change).