The Cincinnati Bengals were in need of a new defensive coordinator after parting ways with Lou Anarumo this offseason, and it sounds like the team may have found his replacement.
According to Pete Nakos of On3, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is poised to leave his current team to become the next defensive coordinator for the Bengals, pending his formal interview with the team.
“Notre Dame’s Al Golden is expected to interview with Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor in the next 48 hours for the defensive coordinator opening, sources tell On3. The current expectation is Golden will be the Bengals’ next defensive coordinator if all goes as planned,” Nakos wrote for On3.
“A source told On3 on Saturday that Golden has not yet interviewed for the opening as his focus has been on Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff run. But now after the national championship game, the Bengals are going all-in on the 55-year-old defensive coordinator who is their top candidate.”
This move comes after the Bengals struggled mightily on the defensive side of the ball this season despite a strong season from quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense.
The Bengals lost four games in which Burrow and the offense put up 30 or more points—leading the league in that unfortunate category. Cincinnati’s offense set a franchise record with 472 points scored, but the defense allowed 434 points in return.
The defense’s shortcomings directly cost the Bengals a playoff spot, squandering Burrow’s MVP-caliber season. We’ll have to see whether or not Golden can improve things on the defensive side of the ball.
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