The Bengals' new defensive coordinator kept his residence in Cincinnati after his first stint with the team and is excited to be back.

The Bengals announced Thursday the hiring of Al Golden as defensive coordinator. Golden, 55, previously served as the Bengals’ linebackers coach from 2020-21, before spending the past three seasons (’22-24) as defensive coordinator at the University of Notre Dame.

The Cincinnati Bengals have made a significant move by hiring Al Golden as their new defensive coordinator. Golden has had a long career in football, starting as a player at Penn State under Joe Paterno.

The Cincinnati Bengals have hired Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden as the next defensive coordinator of the franchise, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Wednesday. Golden currently serves as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator after two years on head coach Zac Taylor’s staff from 2020-21.

Following the now-concluded regime of former Bengals coordinator Lou Anarumo, Golden returns to Cincinnati a rejuvenated coach following a highly successful period as defensive coordinator of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Here are five things to know about Golden, his past influences and his latest work in the game.

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.

Polarizing former Miami head coach Al Golden is leaving Notre Dame to return to the Cincinnati Bengals as defensive coordinator.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Wednesday afternoon that Golden, the defensive coordinator for Notre Dame this season, has informed the school of his decision to join the Bengals.

"There's only 32 of these," Golden said when asked why he wanted to return to the Bengals after a successful stint in the college ranks, at Notre Dame. "There's even less that have Joe Burrow."

The Cincinnati Bengals have found their next defensive coordinator – and he has prior experience under head coach Zac Taylor.

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.

The Cincinnati Bengals made the hire of Al Golden as the team's new defensive coordinator official on Thursday afternoon. Head coach Zac Taylor fired Lou Anarumo immediately after the season and held a limited search in hiring his replacement. It was clear from the begining that Taylor wanted to hire Golden for the position.