The Bengals are in Madrid this week, getting ready for their matchup with the Atlanta Falcons while also soaking in the city’s food and culture. But back in the media world, one national voice is openly rooting for Cincinnati to stumble - and doing it with Al Golden in mind.
Meadowlark Media’s Jessica Smetana used her weekly spot on The Dan LeBatard Show to make her feelings clear. While talking through her concerns about Notre Dame’s defense ahead of Saturday’s game, she said, “I think there’s just been a lot of lapses on a defensive side that, frankly, I wish nothing but ill on the Cincinnati Bengals for the rest of the year so that Al Golden comes back because I think that he had a little bit better grasp of like, playing into the strengths of the personnel on the field.”
That drew a laugh from producer and co-host Mike Ryan, who floated another possible landing spot for Golden when he said, “Al Golden would make such a great head coach for FSU. So as much as you’d like to see him return there, I think Tallahassee is the pipeline.”
Golden’s résumé gives him plenty of paths. He has already had head coaching jobs at Temple and Miami, then spent years in the NFL as a position coach, including time as linebackers coach with the Bengals. He later returned to Notre Dame and served as defensive coordinator for the Irish team that gave up 34 points to The Ohio State in the 2025 national championship game.
Whether it ends up being Notre Dame, Florida State, or an NFL job, Golden would likely prefer another shot at running a program rather than sliding back into a college coordinator role. If he does leave Cincinnati for a lateral move, the professional ranks would probably be the more appealing route.
There’s also a practical reason Smetana may want to be careful what she wishes for. Golden joined the Bengals before the confetti stopped falling in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2025, and while Lou Anarumo took the blame, Cincinnati’s defensive numbers have still been a problem. The Bengals were one of the league’s worst defenses last season, allowing the third-most points and second-most yards in 2025.
This year, the unit has improved, but it still isn’t exactly airtight. Cincinnati is giving up 360 yards per game, which ranks 26th, though the Bengals are allowing 22.6 points per game, good for 14th.
Smetana’s interest in a Bengals collapse isn’t just about Notre Dame, either. She’s also a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, which adds another layer to her rooting interests. And if Cincinnati does fade, that would help the Steelers’ push for the AFC North title while also potentially opening the door for Golden to land back in South Bend.
For now, though, the bigger point is simple: if the Bengals finish strong, Golden could end up drawing interest elsewhere. If they don’t, Smetana gets the collapse she’s hoping for - and maybe a path for Golden back to Notre Dame.
Some in Bengaldom would welcome Golden moving on if it means the season has gone well enough that other teams are chasing him. That kind of departure would point to a successful run, not a rescue mission. It would also mean the Steelers are not division champs, which is part of the equation too.
Smetana can be heard on The Dan LeBatard Show, co-hosting the College Football Happy Hour Podcast with Lucy Rohden and on The Echoes, a Notre Dame podcast she hosts with Mike Golic Jr.
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