The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense is now being led by Al Golden, and there are high hopes entering the 2025 season that he will elevate a unit that has struggled in recent seasons.
The former Notre Dame defensive coordinator made a major leap from South Bend to the NFL, a move that could have a significant impact on the Bengals, especially for their defensive unit and one player in particular who’s being touted as a potential breakout star this season.
Bengals Hoping New DC Turns Things Around For Former Third-Round Pick
Brandon Austin of PFSN named one breakout candidate from each team for this upcoming season. For the Bengals, it was Jordon Battle, which would be huge news for them.
Austin writes, “Jordan Battle’s brief tenure with the Bengals hasn’t been smooth sailing since the team picked him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he put together a promising rookie season, recording 69 tackles, four tackles for loss, and an interception. He thrived when asked to get after the quarterback, notching two sacks and seven pressures,” Austin wrote.
Battle played college football at Alabama before being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
But the high hopes for Battle have simmered in just two years in the league.
Ages of the Bengals secondary:
Geno Stone: 26
Cam Taylor-Britt: 25
Dax Hill: 24
DJ Turner: 24
Jordan Battle: 24
Josh Newton: 24Will the Bengals youth in the back end help or hurt them in 2025? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/MgwEz2HTOc
— Bengalscentre (@benga1scentre) July 10, 2025
In 2023, he played in all 17 games with seven starts, but in 2024, he became a backup as Cincinnati went to veteran mode with Geno Stone and Vonn Bell.
Early in the 2024 season, Battle’s snaps were shockingly low, although former DC Lou Anarumo revealed why that happened:
“When he came in, he just started off a little bit slow in training camp, for whatever reason. (He) has progressed as we’ve gotten along. So if he continues that upward trend, then we’ll work him in there,” Anarumo said per ESPN’s Ben Baby.
Battle would end up starting the final six games of the season, which is a promising sign for his prospects entering the 2025 campaign.
Can Al Golden Bring Battle Back to his Alabama Days?
In college, Battle was a star. He played four years at Alabama, playing in a total of 54 games with six interceptions and 141 solo tackles.
He also came in and started for Alabama as a true freshman, which has been a rare case during the days of Nick Saban’s run as head coach in Tuscaloosa.
Golden has had nothing but success recently with Notre Dame. If he can work his magic in Cincinnati with Battle, it could be a major boost for the defense and give the young Bengals defense some confidence after a shaky start to his NFL career.
