Report: Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor 'Paused' Defensive Coordinator Search to Speak With Al Golden

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor presto-changoed a Super Bowl-contending football team into a non-playoff also-ran in just 17 weeks.

Jan 4, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor reacts to an interference call on the Bengals against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Cincinnati has a prime candidate in Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden, who was the club's linebacker coach in 2020 and 2021 under Taylor's staff. Just last night, Golden competed in the national championship against Ohio State. While Notre Dame lost to a buzzsaw of a Buckeyes squad, Golden's defense was remarkable this season.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden is on the heels of an NFL job after the Fighting Irish lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday.

According to Albert Breer, the Bengals are waiting for the dust to settle on Notre Dame’s season and plan on bringing in Notre Dame DC Al Golden for an interview for their defensive coordinator job sometime over the next 48 hours.

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.

So close, yet so far. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish completed their greatest season in my lifetime. While they still have not won a national title since the Ron

Cincinnati has officially hired their new offensive line coach Scott Peters to replace Pollack in that regard, but Peters revealed he won't be assuming both roles all by himself t

The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly targeting one of their former coaches to fill their vacant defensive coordinator position.

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.