Bengals throw DC Al Golden a bone by adding a face he knows well to fill an important void after latest injury
The Cincinnati Bengals needed another linebacker after losing Swayze Boseman to injured reserve. Their waiver claim brings in a familiar face from Al Golden’s national championship run at Notre Dame.
The Cincinnati Bengals wasted no time making their latest roster move, and the reason behind it is easy to see.
Cincinnati claimed linebacker Jack Kiser off waivers Monday afternoon. The addition comes in tandem with LB Swayze Bozeman being placed on the Reserve/Injured list. Bozeman broke his forearm on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, per coach Zac Taylor.
Kiser was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in 14 games as a rookie for the Jags during the regular season last year. The vast majority of his impact was felt on special teams. He spent one game on Jacksonville’s practice squad and was inactive for three games before being waived on Saturday.
Bozeman’s injury left the Bengals with just four LBs between its active roster and practice squad combined. Another body at the position was a necessity, and Cincy looked for an obvious connection once it became possible.
Bengals reunite Jack Kiser with Al Golden, other assistants
It all goes back to Notre Dame, where Kiser played six years and finished as a team captain and starting middle linebacker. He was a leader for one of the best defenses in college football in 2024. That defense was, of course, coordinated and coached by Al Golden. Cincinnati then hired Golden as its defensive coordinator following the Irish’s run to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Golden coached Kiser for three seasons in South Bend, and the two clearly share a great deal of respect for one another. Kiser would only be here if Golden vouched for him, and the 26-year-old player spoke highly of his coach shortly after they each fell short in the CFP.
“The biggest thing about the guy is he cares so much,” Kiser said of Golden. He cares about the players, he cares about the program. He cares about challenging each other, being the best every single day. That’s him. Before he left, he made sure everybody got the chance to swing by his office and get to talk to him.”
But it’s not just Golden whom Kiser will be meeting again. Bengals assistant LB coach Ronnie Regula was a part of Golden’s defensive staff at Notre Dame from 2022-23. He focused on LBs in 2022 specifically. Bengals assistant defensive line coach Mike Moon was also a staffer under Golden from 2022-24.
There were so many connections between Kiser and the Bengals, and combined with their obvious need at his position last year, it would’ve made total sense if Cincinnati drafted him. He was ultimately picked 22 spots prior to the club drafting LB Barrett Carter.
Kiser’s expected role with the Bengals
Cincinnati did not reunite Kiser and Golden so Kiser could be a solution on defense. At most, he is a depth player behind the two starters, Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr., and backups Oren Burks and Joe Giles-Harris. His primary job will be on special teams, where he will replace what Bozeman provided before the injury. Bozeman’s absence on coverage units needed to be filled, and Cincinnati needed bodies at linebacker regardless of how many defensive snaps they would see.
Kiser checks both boxes. He brings experience in Golden’s system, a familiarity with the coaching staff, and a willingness to do the dirty work in the third phase of the game. After all, he played 193 special teams snaps in Jacksonville last year compared to 43 on defense. Bozeman was already at 63 special teams snaps this season.
The Bengals needed another special teams body, and they went out and got a player Golden trusts in the process. We’ll see how long he stays depending on Bozeman’s recovery.
