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In back to back seasons, Notre Dame was in need of making some impact hires on the defensive coaching staff. After the 2024 season, they lost defensive coordinator Al Golden to the NFL where he now fills the same role for the Cincinnati Bengals. That offseason, they hired Chris Ash who, after a rough start, got things turned around in the final two quarters of the regular season and ended the year with an elite defense.   

This offseason, the Irish have lost all three of their impactful position coaches on the defensive staff. Al Washington is headed to the Miami Dolphins, Mike Mickens is headed to the Baltimore Ravens and Max Bullough is headed back to his alma mater to be the co-defensive coordinator for the Michigan State Spartans. To replace Mickens, head coach Marcus Freeman and Ash brought in Aaron Henry, the Illinois defensive coordinator to coach defensive backs. 

Henry was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Fighting Illini in 2022; he was their defensive backs coach in 2021 and 2022. Over the last two seasons, Illinois won 19 games which is the best two-year span in program history. Henry's defense played an integral role in that happening. In 2026, the Florida native walks into the most talented secondary from top to bottom in the country. 

The Lay Of The Land

Notre Dame finished the regular season ranked 4th in the country in interceptions and, after a rough start to the 2025 season, ended as one of the top defenses in the country led by an exceptional secondary. All four of their key starters on the back end including their field corner, field safety, boundary corner and boundary safety return from the 2025 season and will look to continue their dominance this upcoming season. 

This might be the deepest and most talented cornerback room in the country. Senior Christian Gray returns the starting line up in 2026 but has the opportunity to step into a new role at nickel back. This was likely going to be the case under Mickens; Henry has the opportunity to make the switch as well. Unanimous All-American cornerback Leonard Moore also returns this year for his third, and likely final, season in South Bend. For depth, they added Jayden Sanders from Michigan, return Dallas Golden and Mark Zackery and added Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Chaz Smith and Nick Reddish from the 2026 recruiting class. 

The Irish also return both starting safeties in Adon Shuler, who was a captain in 2025, and Tae Johnson, who burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman and will look to pick up where he left off this upcoming season. Senior Luke Talich was also a focal point of the safety rotation in 2025 and he also returns for his final season in South Bend. Rising sophomore Ethan Long will likely be added to the rotation but don't sleep on redshirt freshman Brandon Logan or talented true freshman Joey O'Brien. 

Expectations In 2026

The situation in that Charlie Partridge is walking into with the defensive line room is very similar to the spot that Henry is walking into with the defensive backs room. On paper, this is the best returning secondary in the country. Obviously, development will have to continue, but the expectations for the Florida native in 2026 is to maintain the standard in the room set forth by Mickens the last five seasons. 

Notre Dame's secondary has been considered one of the best units in the nation over the last several seasons featuring players like Xavier Watts who now plays for the Atlanta Falcons, Ben Morrison who now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cam Hart who now plays for the Los Angeles Chargers. The standard in the room is simple; it's excellence. Henry has a lot of experience coaching NFL caliber talent at previous stops and this secondary has it by the boat load. 

Henry isn't Mickens, nor should he try to be Notre Dame's previous defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator. But he is a top-level defensive backs coach and will have to continue getting the best out of every guy in his room. If Henry lives up to the standard of coaching defensive backs in South Bend, this will be another lights-out secondary in 2026. 

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