Notre Dame Football Loses Assistant Coach Mike Mickens to NFL

Notre Dame football is experiencing a significant change in its coaching staff as highly regarded assistant coach Mike Mickens has accepted a position with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. This development was confirmed by a source on Sunday evening.

Mickens, 38, will continue in the same role he held with the Irish: defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach. His departure marks a major shift for the program, especially after his contributions over the past few years.

Notre Dame’s defense had an impressive run in terms of pass efficiency. The team led the nation in defensive pass efficiency in both 2023 and 2024, though it dropped to ninth in 2025. During this period, the Irish recorded 56 interceptions while allowing just 36 touchdown passes. These numbers highlight the effectiveness of Mickens’ coaching during that time.

Despite being passed over in Notre Dame’s search for a new defensive coordinator a year ago, Mickens had strong support from former players and parents, including ESPN analyst Ryan Clark. Instead, coach Marcus Freeman opted to hire Chris Ash, a well-traveled assistant, to replace Al Golden, who returned to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ash faced challenges early in the season, leading to an 0-2 start with several defensive breakdowns. However, he helped turn things around, guiding the Irish defense to a 10-game winning streak to end the regular season.

2026 Depth Chart Predictions

With the transfer portal now closed, analysts are beginning to project the 2026 depth chart for Notre Dame football. While specific details remain uncertain, the departure of Mickens and other assistants could influence these projections significantly.

Mickens is not the only defensive assistant to leave Notre Dame this offseason. Linebackers coach Max Bullough departed in December to join Michigan State, his alma mater, as co-defensive coordinator. In response, Notre Dame moved Al Washington to coach linebackers and hired Charlie Partridge, a former Indianapolis Colts assistant, to take over the defensive line.

The Ravens have also made some notable changes. They recently hired Jesse Minter as head coach after firing John Harbaugh. Minter, the son of former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Rick Minter, previously served as a senior defensive analyst for the Chargers. He also has a personal connection to Mickens, having worked with him during his time at Cincinnati.

Key Players and Mentors

One of the Ravens’ highest-paid defensive players is Kyle Hamilton, a former Notre Dame safety who played under Mickens during his final two college seasons. Mickens’ influence extended beyond the field, as he mentored several current NFL players, including Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts, Cam Hart, and Thomas Harper.

Watts, a safety, was a back-to-back consensus All-American for the Irish in 2023-24. Now with the Atlanta Falcons, he has been named one of five finalists for NFL rookie defensive player of the year. Leonard Moore, a rising junior cornerback, also benefited from Mickens’ guidance, earning unanimous All-America honors in 2025.

Mickens has a history of developing young talent. He guided Tae Johnson to a standout season as a redshirt freshman in 2025. Freshmen Dallas Golden and Mark Zackery IV also performed well under his mentorship, with Golden transitioning to nickelback in less than a week before the Purdue game.

Professional Background and Connections

Mickens’ career includes previous stints at Idaho (2013) and Bowling Green (2014-17). He also worked with Cincinnati’s coaching staff during the 2007-08 season when Jesse Minter was a graduate assistant. Their paths crossed again in 2012 when Mickens was a defensive assistant at Indiana State and Minter was the defensive coordinator.

This will be Mickens’ first NFL coaching job after being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round in 2009. He joins a growing list of former Notre Dame assistants who have transitioned to the NFL, including Al Golden, Deland McCullough, Chris O’Leary, and Brian Mason.

Mickens’ departure marks the end of an era for Notre Dame football, but his legacy as a mentor and coach will continue to impact the program and the players he has developed.