CINCINNATI — Zac Taylor graced the podium with new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden on Monday. He gave some new knowledge into Cincinnati's process for hiring new assistant coaches on his staff. Golden was the man for the job after a weeks-long search.

Zac Taylor and the Cincinnati Bengals haven’t done much to hide their intentions when it comes to the team’s next defensive corodsintoer. The transparent, narrow search to fill the position has always obviously centered on Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden. Those plans took another step on Monday night.

Just moments after Notre Dame lost to Ohio State 34-23 in the National Championship Game, Mike Garafolo reported that Zac Taylor and the Bengals are eyeing Golden for their defensive coordinator job.

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.

The Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator job has been open for more than two weeks now, but there hasn't been much movement on a possible hiring and now we know why: The team was waiting for Notre Dame to finish its season.

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

"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 made it official with new defensive coordinator Al Golden on Thursday.

"He's done nothing, and he's going to have to start doing something quickly," Tobin said when asked what Burton has done to earn a roster spot. "We knew we were taking a risk. We felt comfortable that we could help him through some of the challenges he's had in the past, and we're going to continue to try to help him."

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish made a splashy hire to replace Al Golden as their next offensive coordinator by bringing in Chris Ash. The former head coach at Rutgers has been everywhere, man, including a notable run with Ohio State previously.

After the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, both offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon left the City of Brotherly Love for head coaching jobs.