It didn’t take many by surprise to see former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden leave for the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Coach Golden spent a couple of seasons as the linebackers coach with the organization before coming to South Bend,

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.

If you've ever been to the Jersey Shore, you can feel it. The breeze coming off the shore. The smells of cotton candy and funnel cakes wafting through the air. A Bruce Springsteen song playing over the loudspeakers.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish lost Monday, but Al Golden is favored to be the Bengals' defensive coordinator this week.

A 56-yard completion to freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith helped Ohio State hold off a furious Notre Dame comeback ... everybody looks at that player,” Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden said. “Certainly, I should be looked at for putting him in ...

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Drayk Bowen (34) knocks the ball away from Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) for a fumble in the fourth quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.

CINCINNATI — Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden has emerged as the favorite ... Irish are preparing to go up against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Monday night's National Championship ...

With the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, Ohio State turned to freshman star receiver Jeremiah Smith, and he delivered.

“Sources: Chris Ash has accepted the job as the Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator,” Pete Thamel said in a post. “Ash brings a blend of coordinating experience, NFL experience and high-end results as a collegiate coordinator. A deal is expected to be finalized in the near future.”

Chris Ash, a former Rutgers head coach who spent the past four years in the NFL, will be Notre Dame's new defensive coordinator.

The news that Notre Dame football defensive coordinator Al Golden was taking the Cincinnati Bengals DC position left the Irish with a fairly sizable hole.