Bengals Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker: Interviews, rumors, and everything else to know
The offseason is in full swing, and one of the first orders of business for the Cincinnati Bengals is to find a new defensive coordinator after letting go of Lou Anarumo.The replacement for Anarumo will need to completely take charge of the defense and get the most out of a young nucleus that has underwhelmed […]
The offseason is in full swing, and one of the first orders of business for the Cincinnati Bengals is to find a new defensive coordinator after letting go of Lou Anarumo.
The replacement for Anarumo will need to completely take charge of the defense and get the most out of a young nucleus that has underwhelmed over the last two years. Head coach Zac Taylor will likely be looking for an experienced candidate who's called plays before on that side of the ball.
Interview requests and rumors will be coming in hot, so we'll keep you up to date on which candidates are in the running with the latest news at the top.
– A look at the popular candidates and whether or not they make sense for the Bengals
– On why it was time for Cincinnati to move on from Anarumo in the first place
Bengals Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker
1/21: Timeline for Al Golden's arrival
Per The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr., Al Golden is expected to interview with Zac Taylor and the Bengals Wednesday after he departs from Notre Dame.
In the days (or hours) following Golden's interview, it's strongly speculated that the Bengals will offer him a contract to become the team's next defensive coordinator.
1/20: National media catches up on Al Golden
Immediately following the College Football Playoff National Championship, NFL Media insiders report that Al Golden is the favorite to become Cincinnati's DC now that he's free to officially leave for the gig.
1/16: Al Golden or Patrick Graham
SI Bengals Talk's Drae Harris reported that the Bengals DC job will come down to either former Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham, or Notre Dame DC Al Golden. Harris went as far to say that he expects Golden to land the gig.
1/14: "Wink" Martindale connection shut down
Despite an earlier report regarding the Bengals' potential interest in hiring Don "Wink" Martindale to be their DC, The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. effectively shut down that report.
Martindale is still Michigan's DC and is the highest-paid coach at that position in the college ranks. He will interview with the Falcons and Colts, but he's not going to work for the Bengals any time soon.
1/14: Former rival coach linked to Bengals' DC search
NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reports that the Bengals "could have interest" in current Michigan DC Wink Martindale, whom will be interviewing with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts this week.
Martindale became Michigan's DC last year after a two-year run with the New York Giants. Bengals fans knew him best when he was a part of the Baltimore Ravens' staff from 2012-2021. He coached linebackers from 2012-17 and held the DC title from 2018-21.
Leading up to his last time coaching against the Bengals in 2021, Martindale dismissed the hype around Joe Burrow at the time.
"Aaron Rodgers is a Hall of Fame QB, and I don't think we're ready to buy a gold jacket for Joe (Burrow)," Martindale said after his Ravens just played the Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers.
Burrow ended up throwing for what's still a career-high 525 passing yards and four touchdowns to boot against Martindale's defense that was down several starters. Burrow told reporters after the game he saw what Martindale had said about him.
"I didn’t think it was a necessary comment," Burrow said. "I wouldn’t say I was offended by it. I mean, I’m in year two. Who knows what’s going to happen down the road? But I didn’t think it was a necessary comment."
When asked if it motivated him, Burrow offered a sly, "Maybe" in response.
That was over three years ago now. Will the Bengals bring in the Dayton, Ohio native for an interview? Time will tell.
1/10: Matt Eberflus enters the conversation
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Friday evening that former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is "involved" in the Bengals' search for a DC.
Eberflus was hired back in 2022 by Chicago and was fired this past November. His defense dropped dramatically after his dismissal, though his shortcomings as a head coach are what he'll be most remembered for. Before his time with the Bears, he was the Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator from 2018-2021. Indianapolis' defense ranked 12th in EPA/play allowed and allowed the fourth-lowest EPA/rush during those years. They ranked no worse than 17th in EPA/play allowed in any single year and finished ninth twice.
It's not been reported if Eberflus has had or has scheduled an interview yet, but his name is by far the biggest in the search thus far.
1/10: Bengals' DC search still ongoing despite recent report
BengalsTalk.com reported that safety Daijahn Anthony claimed Cincinnati decided on a replacement for Anarumo sometime Thursday. Cincinnati.com's Kelsey Conway reports that those rumors are not true.
The Cincinnati Bengals search for their new defensive coordinator is still ongoing and the team has yet to make a decision on the hire, per a source with knowledge of the situation. – Cincinnati.com's Kelsey Conway
1/7: Bengals reportedly not targeting Robert Saleh, Dennis Allen
According to a report from BengalsTalk.com's James Rapien, the Bengals "aren't expected to interview" former defensive-minded head coaches Robert Saleh and Dennis Allen.
What about former NFL head coaches that are proven defensive coordinators like Robert Saleh or Dennis Allen? It doesn't sound like the Bengals will go that route. That doesn't mean they haven't discussed Allen or Saleh, but they aren't expected to interview either coach at this point. – BengalsTalk.com's James Rapien
Saleh and Allen were fired during this past season by the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectively. Saleh was formerly the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, whereas Allen was New Orleans' DC and the head coach of the then Oakland Raiders before taking over the Saints.
1/7: Bengals to interview Patriots DC Demarcus Covington
Following Graham will be New England DC Demarcus Covington, who will be interviewing with Cincinnati on Wednesday, per Pelissero.
Covington was hired by Jerod Mayo as his DC for the 2024 season after the two spent five years coaching together under Belichick. Covington was hired by the Pats all the way back in 2017 as an assistant and took over as the outside linebackers coach in 2019. He coached the defensive line from 2020-23 before taking his promotion alongside Mayo.
Before New England, Covington spent five years coaching at four different college programs including graduate assistant stints at UAB and Ole Miss. He played wide receiver at Samford from 2007-10.
1/7: Bengals to interview Raiders DC Patrick Graham
Up first on the docket is Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham, whose contract has expired which makes him free to take lateral moves if he pleases. As NFL Media's Tom Pelissero points out, Graham is also in the running for the Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching gig.
Graham's been the Raiders DC since 2022, a holdover from Josh McDaniels' staff who was kept by Antonio Pierce last year. Graham and McDaniels knew each other back when Graham got his NFL coaching start during the heart of the Bill Belichick era with the New England Patriots. He was a defensive assistant for seven years, manning multiple roles during that time.
Graham spent a couple seasons with the New York Giants and a year with the Green Bay Packers before earning his first DC gig with the Miami Dolphins in 2019. That turned into the same role along with assistant head coach title with the Giants from 2020-21.
Like in past years, Graham will be vying for a head coaching job this offseason. He's the first of what will likely be several candidates interviewing to replace Anarumo.
We'll update this post when more news breaks on the Bengals' DC search…