Jan. 27 (UPI) -- New defensive coordinator Al Golden and the Cincinnati Bengals filled some holes on their coaching staff, hiring Jerry Montgomery and Mike Hodges, the team announced Monday.
The Bengals, who fired former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo earlier this month, hired Golden on Thursday, attempting to improve a defense that allowed the eighth-most points and yards in the NFL this season.
"It's not so much that we are going to do X, Y and Z. It's the belief system, that everybody involved believes the same thing," Golden said Monday at his introductory news conference. "That the secondary believes the same thing as the linebackers, the linebackers believe the same thing as the defensive line.
"When you get that, when you get that unit strength, and you are bound by certain fundamentals or techniques or concepts, great things can happen. That's what we want to do here."
Montgomery will serve as the Bengals' new defensive line coach and run game coordinator. He spent the 2024 campaign as defensive line coach for the New England Patriots. He also spent nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
Montgomery, 45, worked as a defensive front assistant, defensive line coach and defensive line coach and run game coordinator during his time with the Packers.
Hodges, 38, will be the Bengals' linebacker coach. He spent the last eight years with the New Orleans Saints. Hodges was Saints linebackers coach from 2020 to 2024. He also served as a defensive assistant and assistant linebackers coach while with the Saints.
Hodges played linebacker from 2008 to 2011 at Texas A&M, when Bengals coach Zach Taylor was an offensive graduate assistant and tight ends coach with the Aggies.
"Talented, I would say very, very talented, starting with Jerry on the D-line," Golden said of Montgomery. "I was in the NFC North coaching offense while he was on defense. For him to stay nine years in the same position speaks volumes to me. Or that he transcends head coaches or transcends coordinators says a lot about who he is and the type of coach he is.
"Obviously, I've worked with Jordan [secondary/safety coach Jordan Kovacs]. Jordan was my right-hand man here last time. ... Coach Burks [secondary/cornerback coach Charles Burks] I had a chance to spend some time with him.
"Coach Hodges obviously comes well-recommended. ... Same thing, six years in one place says a lot about him. I'm excited about those guys and getting together and starting to plot a course."
The Bengals, who went 9-8 this season, ranked 21st against the pass and 19th against the run in 2024-25. They hold the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Defensive tackle B.J. Hill, cornerback Mike Hilton and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither are among several Bengals defenders set to hit free agency this off-season.
Edge rushers Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard and several other highly-utilized Bengals defenders remain under contract for one more season.
"I know exactly the type of players that Zac wants us to identify and go out and find through free agency and then ultimately the draft," Golden said. "I know what the Brown family expects, which is important, so I don't think there will be a learning curve there.
"The biggest thing is just getting with the staff right now, identifying our needs and how we supplement the roster that's already in place. That's why I'm here today. I can't wait to get going on it."
The Bengals had a Top-5 defense just twice since 1972, with the No. 3 unit in 2015 and No. 4 unit in 2013 under former coach Marvin Lewis. Mike Zimmer served as defensive coordinator in 2013, while Paul Guenther held the role in 2015.
