The Cincinnati Bengals fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after last season and brought back former assistant Al Golden to take the reins of the defense. The unit, which was historically bad under
Anarumo, has been historically worse this season.
Golden was brought in to develop talent, but thus far, the three rookies, who have all gotten significant playing time, have a developmental curve that resembles a roller coaster.
So what now?
Do they go out and look for a new defensive coordinator, again? Perhaps this time the search isn’t conducted by Zac Taylor’s neighborhood watch association.
With this team, who knows?
If they do decide to conduct another search, here are 10 names they should focus on.
1. Jim Schwartz – Defensive Coordinator – Cleveland Browns
True, Jim Schwartz has a job, but with Kevin Stefanski on the hot seat, he is worth mentioning.
The 59-year-old Schwartz has 17 years of experience as an NFL Defensive Coordinator as well as head coaching experience. He won a Super Bowl as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 and was named AP Assistant Coach of the year in 2023.
Schwartz is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league and is known for building his defenses from the trenches. He is currently a coach in the AFC North, and his defensive system is a perfect fit.
Having started his coaching career when Zac Taylor was in first grade, Schwartz could give Taylor the experienced “head coach of the defense” that we have long hoped he’d be paired with.
2. Christian Parker – Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach – Philadelphia Eagles
In a sharp contrast from Schwarz, Christian Parker is only 33 years old and only started coaching in the NFL in 2019. Parker started out in Green Bay as a quality control coach, before moving to Denver as the defensive backs coach, and finally ending up with the Eagles.
Serving under Vic Fangio in Philadelphia, Parker has been a key part of developing a secondary that includes recent draftees like Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Andrew Mukuba. He has also helped to transform a pass defense that was one of the worst in the league a few seasons ago, into one of the best.
Parker is a bright young star who could be just the guy to facilitate the defensive turnaround.
3. Tosh Lupoi – Defensive Coordinator – University of Oregon
With the increased creativity in offensive play-calling over the past several seasons, it only makes sense to look at college defensive coordinators for NFL jobs. After all, those guys have to defend everything from the triple option to the pistol and everything in between.
Lupoi’s Oregon defenses are known for not giving up big plays. Prior to heading out west, Lupoi spent five seasons winning National Championships with Nick Saban at Alabama. He has coached in the NFL as well, with experience as the defensive line coach of the Browns, Falcons, and Jaguars.
The 44-year-old Lupoi is a developer and a motivator who could be just what this team needs.
4. Steve Clinkscale – Defensive Backs Coach – Los Angeles Chargers
Steve Clinkscale was the defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines when Dax Hill and DJ Turner were in their heyday. Working alongside now Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald and Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
The 48-year-old is a Youngstown native and an Ashland alum. Ironically, his only coordinator experience was with the University of Cincinnati, where he coached a Bearcats defense that was known for winning in key situations.
Clinkscale looks like the most obvious next branch on the Michigan/Baltimore defensive coordinator tree.
5. Jim Leonhard – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator – Denver Broncos
After playing a decade in the NFL, Jin Leonhard returned to his alma mater as defensive backs coach, and a year later, he was promoted to the Wisconsin Badgers’ defensive coordinator. His defensive units were always tenacious.
He has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach in Denver and is poised to get his first opportunity to coordinate an NFL defense. His experience at Wisconsin and working under Vance Joseph in Denver will serve the 43-year-old well, as will his ability to connect with and motivate a defense.
6. Glenn Schumann – Defensive Coordinator – University of Georgia
Alabama. Georgia.
Glenn Schumann’s resume is short, but impressive.
After doing he grunt work at Alabama, Kirby Smart brought him along as the inside linebackers coach at Georgia. Three years later, he was the co-defensive coordinator. When Dan Lanning left to take a head coaching job at Oregon, Schumann dropped the “co” from his title.
Schumann (35) has won two National Titles and produced countless NFL players in his time at Georgia. His emphasis on physicality and fundamentals is a great match with the weaknesses of the Bengals defense.
7. Dave Merritt – Defensive Backs Coach – Kansas City Chiefs
You want to talk about development? Just look at what Dave Merritt has done time and time again as he takes young cornerbacks and gets them to play at a championship level.
Merritt won two Super Bowls as defensive backs coach under Steve Spagnuolo with the New York Giants, before rejoining his mentor in Kansas City to win three more.
The 54-year-old is known for the way he develops his players on and off the field. He has not had a chance to coordinate his own defensive unit, but perhaps it is time for him to step out from behind Spags’s shadow.
8. Wink Martindale – Defensive Coordinator – University of Michigan
I know. I know. Joe Burrow kicked his butt and got him fired. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach.
Don “Wink” Martindale, a Dayton native, has 7 years of experience as an NFL defensive coordinator. As a position coach, he served under the likes of Dean Pees, Rob Ryan, and Mike Nolan.
Prior to Burrow doing Burrow things, the 62-year-old Martindale had the Ravens defense rolling and was even getting head coach interviews despite being an old, defense coach in a league that drools over youth and offense.
Martindale’s defenses bring pressure and create turnovers. Since leaving the NFL, he has been at Michigan, coaching one of the top defenses in college football in a system that the Bengals love to draft from.
9. Mike Pettine – Assistant Head Coach/Outside Linebackers Coach – Minnesota Vikings
Pettine’s meteoric rise took him from high school coach to NFL defensive coordinator in 8 years.
Pettine coached in Baltimore under defensive coordinators Mike Nolan and Rex Ryan, before the latter brought him to New York as the Jets DC. After a cup of coffee in Buffalo, Pettine became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, which went just about the same way it does for everybody.
He later took a bad Green Bay defense and made it adequate, and has had a handful of consultant and senior associate-type positions in recent years.
The 59-year-old’s wealth of experience could serve the Bengals well
10. D’Anton Lynn – Defensive Coordinator – USC
D’Anton Lynn grinded his way through the NFL ranks with low-level stops with the Bills, Chargers, and Texans before the latter promoted him to safeties coach. He then spent time under both Wink Martindale and Mike McDonald in Baltimore before heading to the college ranks to become a defensive coordinator.
After a year as Chip Kelly’s defensive coordinator at UCLA, he headed across town to USC. Lynn (36) has turned the Trojans’ defensive unit around in a hurry. Could he be the right guy to do the same for the Bengals?
