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.

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 ...

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

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 ...

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.

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. 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. pic.twitter.com/1qOjdpb6jf

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.

According to numerous reports on Wednesday afternoon, Chris Ash has accepted the position of defensive coordinator for Notre Dame football. Ash replaces Al Golden, the Irish defensive coordinator of the last three seasons who moved on to the Cincinnati Bengals in the same role less than a week prior.

Al Golden came to Notre Dame as a defensive coordinator with prior head coaching and NFL experience. The Irish got a similar resume to replace him.