FILE – Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden surveys the field before an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina, File)

CINCINNATI, Oh. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Al Golden is the Cincinnati Bengals’ new Defensive Coordinator, the team announced on Thursday.

Golden, 55, comes to the Queen City from Notre Dame where he was the Defensive Coordinator for the Fighting Irish from 2022 to 2024. He was the linebackers coach for Notre Dame for one season after leaving the same role with the Bengals in 2021.

“Al is a very highly regarded coach and we are excited to welcome him back to the Bengals as defensive coordinator,” said Head Coach Zac Taylor. “He understands football at every level and has had great success as a coordinator, position coach and head coach. Al has a great football mind and will bring a smart, physical, aggressive approach to our defense.”

Golden replaces Lou Anarumo, who was fired weeks ago by the Bengals after six seasons leading the defense.

Golden’s Gritty Defenses

Last season in South Bend, Golden’s defense was ranked second in the nation in points allowed with just over 14 per game and ninth in total yards allowed with 298 per game.

In 12 games, the Irish held opponents to 17 point or less. That stingy defense helped Notre Dame reach the College Football Playoff National Championship, where the Irish lost to Ohio State.

“Our number one job is to support our quarterback,” said Golden in a video released by the Bengals on social media. “We have to get him the ball.”

That sentiment is music to Who Dey Nation’s ears.

A major reason for Cincinnati missing out on the playoffs for a second year in a row was poor defense. While quarterback Joe Burrow and the offense were a well oiled machine, the Bengals lost four games in which they scored 30 points or more.

The 2024 Bengals defense had over 400 points scored on them and surrendered a touchdown on over two thirds of opposition red-zone possessions, which was third worst in the league

 Last Time in Cincy

In 2021, when Golden was last with the Bengals, he led a defense that was the fifth best in rushing yards allowed. That same year, the Bengals played in Super Bowl LVI at the end of a postseason in which the Cincinnati defense had nine takeaways.

He has also coached in the NFL for the Detroit Lions where he oversaw linebackers and tight ends in the mid and late 2010s. As a professional, Golden spent the 1992 season with the New England Patriots, but didn’t see any game action.