(This story was updated to correct a misspelling or typo.)

In the 2024 Notre Dame football season opener, former defensive coordinator Al Golden did a great job limiting Texas A&M to just 13 points, but that wasn’t the only thing that impressed him that night.

Now gone to the NFL as the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator, Golden watched the Aggies defensive end Shemar Stewart not make much of an impact with just one tackle. While he didn’t have the best collegiate career, his talent was enough for the Bengals to draft him with the No. 17 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night.

It’s interesting how the two of them will now get a chance to work together, after being opponents this past season. Notre Dame had multiple guys performing at a high level along the defensive line during Golden’s tenure, and he most likely will get the most out of Stewart in the coming years.

Prime time pick. #WhoDeypic.twitter.com/9TRz0gwtOc

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 25, 2025

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Al Golden and the Cincinnati Bengals draft Shemar Stewart