With the college season finally over, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is now the top candidate to become the DC for the Cincinnati Bengals according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com.

Golden has long been considered the Bengals top target for the job.  Head coach Zac Taylor has paused his search for other candidates in anticipation of pursuing a hire in this case. Golden previously worked under Taylor as Cincinnati’s linebackers coach for the 2020 and ’21 seasons.

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic confirms Golden has long been considered the top DC option for the Bengals. Over the next few days, he is expected to finish his tenure with the Fighting Irish (which began in 2022) with a Cincinnati interview likely to take place on Wednesday. After that, Dehner notes, it appears to “inevitable” Golden will be hired to return to the Bengals.

When Taylor was hired as head coach in 2019, he brought in Lou Anarumo as his first defensive coordinator. The latter remained in place for six years, but after the 2024 campaign he was fired. Anarumo has since agreed to charge of the Colts’ defense while the Bengals have yet to replace him. If all goes according to plan with Golden, though, that vacancy will be filled very shortly.

Cincinnati ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring this year, with Joe Burrow topping the league in passing and wideout Ja’Marr Chase winning the ‘Triple Crown’ by finishing first in receptions, yards and touchdowns. In spite of that, the team finished 9-8 and out of the postseason in large part due to defensive shortcomings. After finishing 25th in points and yards allowed, there is considerable room for improvement on that side of the ball moving forward. Golden – who has previously been a DC at Virginia in addition to his time in that capacity with Notre Dame – could soon find himself as an NFL coordinator for the first time.