A solid ranking for the new Cincy DC.
The NFL season is quickly approaching as the Cincinnati Bengals look to bounce back and make a deep playoff run.
After a solid offensive season in 2024, the defense was quite suspect. That is why we will see a whole new defensive staff on the sidelines this upcoming season, led by former Notre Dame DC Al Golden.
With expectations somewhat of a guessing game at this point, it is nice to see Golden land a top-15 ranking among defensive coordinators in the league.
According to a ranking done by Pro Football Network, Golden clocks in at No. 14 entering the preseason.
Here is what they had to say in regards to the new Bengals DC:
“Al Golden has seen most of his coaching success come at the collegiate level. He was a tremendous defensive coordinator for Notre Dame in 2024, leading them to the national championship game. The Cincinnati Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, giving Golden quite a challenge in his first NFL defensive coordinator role. Given how well Notre Dame’s defense has performed in the previous three seasons, he could eventually help them return to playing at a high level. It just might take some time.”
Obviously, there are some major hurdles to clear this season, but it’s obvious Golden comes well-respected after his years of play-calling in South Bend. Most first-time NFL coordinators are ranked in the bottom half of the league until they prove they belong, so clearly, there’s already an expectation that Golden will be a solid defensive play-caller in the pros, despite inheriting much of the same defense from last year.
Let’s hope the success he saw with the Irish continues in the Queen City.