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.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden responds to NFL rumors ahead of the CFP National Championship showdown against Ohio State. Could he be leaving South Bend for a return to the Bengals?

Despite suffering significant injuries on the defensive line throughout the season and postseason, and losing expected first-round pick, cornerback Benjamin Morrison to a season-ending hip injury against Stanford, Golden's defense has been one of the best units in the country in 2024.