Al Washington is heading to the NFL, reuniting with Jeff Hafley on the Miami Dolphins coaching staff and closing the door on his time at Notre Dame. It’s a move that brings a familiar face back into Hafley’s orbit-one that dates back to their shared time at Ohio State-and it signals another shift in a Notre Dame defensive staff that’s seen plenty of turnover this offseason.
Washington had just been named Notre Dame’s new linebackers coach earlier this offseason, stepping in for Max Bullough, who returned to Michigan State to join Pat Fitzgerald’s new staff. Washington was expected to bring stability and experience to a linebacker room that’s widely considered one of the most talented in the country. Instead, he’ll now be working on Sundays, joining Hafley in Miami and making the jump to the NFL.
This isn’t Washington’s first rodeo coaching linebackers. He’s been at it for over a decade, with stops at Elon, Michigan, and Ohio State before landing in South Bend.
At Michigan in 2018, he coached Devin Bush during his breakout season. Then at Ohio State, he helped develop a deep and talented linebacker rotation that included names like Pete Werner, Malik Harrison, Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, and more recently, Cody Simon and Steele Chambers.
Washington’s resume speaks for itself-he’s coached some of the best, and now he’ll take that experience to the pro level.
His brief appointment as Notre Dame’s linebackers coach was meant to provide continuity for a group that didn’t need a rebuild, just a steady hand. And while the timing of his departure is surprising, the move makes sense. Hafley and Washington have a strong working relationship, and the opportunity to coach in the NFL is one few turn down-especially when it comes with a familiar face leading the way.
Washington’s departure is the latest in a string of coaching changes for Marcus Freeman’s staff. Just days ago, defensive backs coach Mike Mickens also left for the NFL.
With Washington gone, every defensive assistant from Notre Dame’s 2024 run to the national title game has now moved on. That’s a remarkable turnover in a short span, and it puts the spotlight back on Freeman and defensive coordinator Chris Ash to reload their staff quickly and effectively.
Freeman, a former linebacker himself and a defensive mind at heart, knows how important this hire is. The linebacker room isn’t just talented-it’s stacked.
Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Jaylen Sneed, and Madden Faraimo are all back, forming one of the deepest linebacker groups in the country. Last season, Notre Dame’s linebackers combined for 217 total tackles and 24 tackles for loss.
And with another year in Ash’s system, there’s every reason to believe those numbers could climb even higher in 2026.
So now, the search begins again. Notre Dame is looking to fill not one, but two key defensive coaching roles.
But make no mistake-these aren’t desperation hires. These are plum jobs on one of the most talented defenses in college football.
Whoever steps into these roles will inherit a veteran group with high expectations and the tools to meet them.
The challenge for Freeman and his staff is to find coaches who can not only maintain the standard but elevate it. Because if Notre Dame wants to get back to the national title game-and take that final step-they’ll need more than talent on the field. They’ll need the right minds on the sidelines, too.