Al Golden sends a clear message to the Bengals ahead of free agency with his honest assessment of Cincinnati’s defense
Al Golden wants more toys, like any defensive coordinator would.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden is not hiding after a rough first season commanding one of the worst defenses in the NFL last year.
While Cincinnati did take steps forward toward the end of 2025, many of the 11 games that were lost featured a lackluster pass rush, with or without top impending free agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Director of player personnel Duke Tobin has made it clear this offseason he wants to bolster the defensive line with pass rushers. Golden sounds very aligned with that message.
“Oh we have to build, this was the least amount of pressure that I’ve that I’ve had in forever,” Golden said to media members at the NFL Scouting Combine. “And by a long margin, the least amount of line stunts.”
Finding capable rushers is a must this offseason. Hendrickson led the main d-line group with a 21.5% pass rush win rate in just seven games. Only two others, Myles Murphy (12.1%) and Joseph Ossai (10.7%) finished above 10%.
Golden has his eyes on developing the building blocks he already has, but knows more are needed to execute his vision as the defensive play-caller.
Al Golden hints at what he wants to keep building up Bengals defense
Versatility was a major theme of Golden’s plans entering his first season back in Cincinnati last season. That’s not going away anytime soon.
When it comes to adding difference makers to a group in need of them, the more they can do, the better chance they end up in a Bengals uniform.
“I’m a defensive coordinator, so I like toys. You know what I mean,” Golden said. “You need force multipliers, right? I mean, that’s what you need, right? You need somebody in the defensive end room that can play outside backer. You need linebackers that can play on and off the line of scrimmage.
“I love versatility in our in our system, in our program, and especially if you can do it without substitution,” Golden continued. “That’s what makes you dangerous. And you know, we’ll see where we go here in terms of identifying those things, but you have complete faith in [head coach Zac Taylor and Tobin] and what we’re going to acquire here in the next month, and then, obviously, three months.”
One of the main selling points behind keeping Golden and virtually the entire coaching staff was to achieve alignment between them and the personnel department. Golden has much work to do over the next several months putting together a unit that can help the Bengals return to postseason football.
The process will take a major step forward next month if his message rings true in free agency.