The Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator job has been open for more than two weeks now, but there hasn't been much movement on a possible hiring and now we know why: The team was waiting for Notre Dame to finish its season.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - A report by Pete Thamel of ESPN says Notre Dame has hired Chris Ash as its new defensive coordinator to replace Al Golden. Golden did a fantastic job as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator the past three years, but he recently announced that he had accepted the defensive coordinator position with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mike Zimmer, who spent last season as the Dallas Cowboys ' defensive coordinator, said he will not be returning to the team on new head coach Brian Schottenheimer's staff and likely will retire from coaching in the NFL, according to a report Sunday from NFL reporter Ed Werder.

Days after Al Golden left to become the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Fighting Irish have hired former Rutgers coach Chris Ash to be their new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Ash has been in the NFL since the start of the 2021 season and worked as a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024.

The Most Important Thing Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator Al Golden Said in Introductory Press Conference

Al Golden was introduced as the new Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Monday. Golden is no stranger to Cincinnati nor head coach Zac Taylor. Before arriving at Notre Dame in 2022, Golden worked as the Bengals linebackers coach from 2020 through 2021.

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Al Golden agreed to return to the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator.

Golden should have an advantage over a lot of other defensive coordinator candidates in this department. He coached against 19 different ranked teams in three seasons as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator.

The Dolphins are scheduled to play a home game in the upcoming season against Cincinnati, though one of their home games will be played in Spain.