The Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell, 34-23, to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship ... per me and Mike Garafolo," Rapoport wrote. "Coach Zac Taylor has been waiting for the National Championship ...

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor introduces new defensive coordinator Al Golden at Paycor Stadium. Golden was hired last week after the Bengals fired former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Anarumo is now the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.

Al Golden agreed to return to Cincinnati on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced. More: 3 Wolverines, 3 ex-Spartans make ESPN list of top 100 college football players from '24-25

Former Red Bank Catholic star Al Golden, fresh off Notre Dame's run to the CFP title game, is returning to the NFL as Bengals defensive coordinator

Al Golden agreed to return to the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator.

Al Golden’s return to the Cincinnati Bengals was made official Thursday, with the franchise announcing he was hired as defensive coordinator.

Al Golden agreed to return to Cincinnati on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced.

The Cincinnati Bengals continued their busy offseason with the introduction of newly-hired defensive coordinator, Al Golden, formerly of Notre Dame.

Cincinnati is finalizing a deal to hire Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden to run its defense. Golden helped lead the Fighting Irish to Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game where they lost to Ohio State. He is expected to officially sign with the team on Thursday.

"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."

A championship in 2025 would guarantee the Cardinals a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time. The Cardinals' highest finish in the CFP era was No. 13 in 2016, the same year quarterback Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy. The Cardinals will kick off their season by facing Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, August 30.

Al Golden said he wanted to leave a place better than when he found it, and he believes he did that at Notre Dame.