CINCINNATI -- A familiar face is headed back to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is expected to join the Bengals in the same role, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Wednesday. The news comes days after the Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.

Golden, 55, spent the past three seasons as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator. Golden replaces Lou Anarumo, who held the post for the past six seasons before he was fired after the Bengals missed the postseason.

This will be Golden's second stint on Zac Taylor's coaching staff. Before taking the job at Notre Dame, he was Cincinnati's linebackers coach during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. During those years, Golden played an integral role in leading a defense that helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years.

The Fighting Irish's defense was a major reason why Notre Dame was a game away from winning its first national championship since 1988. Entering the CFP final against the Buckeyes, Notre Dame's defense ranked fourth among Power 4 teams in points allowed per drive (1.21), according to ESPN Research.

He will be tasked with leading a Bengals defense that looks vastly different from just a couple of years ago. Staples from that Super Bowl team, including safety Jessie Bates III and defensive tackle DJ Reader, departed in free agency in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Last season, Anarumo was tasked with balancing a group that featured aging veterans, injuries at key positions and inexperience at others.

Eventually, the defense figured things out during the Bengals' five-game winning streak to close the regular season. But with Cincinnati missing the postseason for a second straight year, Taylor opted for a staff shake-up. Along with Anarumo, offensive line coach Frank Pollack and defensive line coach Marion Hobby were among those who were not retained.

On Monday, Cincinnati announced Scott Peters as Pollack's replacement and Michael McCarthy as the assistant offensive line coach. Later in the day, Anarumo was hired as the Indianapolis Colts' defensive coordinator.

The Bengals will need to improve a unit that finished near the bottom of the league in several key categories. Last season, Cincinnati was 26th in points allowed per drive, 30th in defensive red zone efficiency and 30th in first downs allowed per game, according to ESPN Research.

Cincinnati is trying to build around star quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase as the team looks to end a two-year playoff drought. Burrow was named to his second Pro Bowl following a career year. Chase made his fourth Pro Bowl in as many NFL seasons and joined defensive end Trey Hendrickson as the team's first All-Pro selections since 2015.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars and general manager Trent Baalke have parted ways, the team announced Wednesday -- just hours after head coaching candidate Liam Coen decided to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately," Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement.

"Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. Ethan Waugh will serve as interim general manager and play an important role, with others, as we continue the process of interviewing candidates to serve as our new head coach. I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike."

Khan retained Baalke when he fired Doug Pederson on Jan. 6, saying that afternoon in a news conference that a complete organizational overhaul would be "suicide." He also said that if any coaching candidate expressed reservations about the organizational structure or working with Baalke, he would be willing to address the topic.

That may have been what spurred Wednesday's move. The Jaguars lost out on Ben Johnson, the top candidate in the hiring cycle, earlier this week to the Chicago Bears, and Johnson said during his introductory news conference that he was grateful to the Bears for providing the "necessary resources" to build the team he wants.

"It was clear to me from the beginning that the priorities were straight," he said.

After Johnson took the Bears job, Coen was the potential front-runner and was scheduled to have a second, in-person interview with the Jaguars on Wednesday, but he opted to remain with the Bucs as offensive coordinator along with a significant raise, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Baalke joined the Jaguars in 2020 as director of player personnel and was promoted to general manager after Khan fired GM Dave Caldwell that November.

Baalke's tenure started with the selection of quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 pick in 2021 and included Urban Meyer's calamitous 13-game span as head coach that season. It also included the hiring of head coach Doug Pederson, an AFC South title and a rally from a 27-0 deficit to win a wild-card playoff game in 2022. But it also included the biggest collapse in franchise history in 2023 when the Jaguars started the season 8-3 but missed the playoffs.

Baalke made a questionable decision by choosing defensive end Travon Walker over defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 1 draft pick in 2022. He also was critical of Pederson, saying the team lacked an identity and the coaching staff did not do a good job of getting the team's draft picks ready to play in 2023. Baalke signed one of the most disappointing free agent classes in franchise history in 2024.

Last offseason Baalke signed defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, Lawrence and cornerback Tyson Campbell to new contracts worth $492.1 million ($249.9 million fully guaranteed). Hines-Allen has consistently been the team's best pass rusher, but Lawrence (60.7% completions, 8 touchdowns, 3 interceptions) and Campbell (missed Weeks 2-6 while on IR with a hamstring injury) underperformed.

Nine of Baalke's 38 draft picks from 2021 to 2024 have become full-time starters, including Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne Jr. (25th overall in 2021), Campbell (33rd overall in 2021), Walker, linebacker Devin Lloyd (27th overall in 2022), right tackle Anton Harrison (27th overall in 2023) and receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (23rd overall in 2024).

However, Baalke's most controversial move was taking Walker with the No. 1 pick instead of Hutchinson because he believed Hutchinson had reached his ceiling in terms of development while Walker -- because of his athleticism (he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at 272 pounds at the combine) and length (6-feet-5, 35.5-inch arms) -- had a much higher upside.

But Hutchinson, who was leading the NFL in sacks this season until he suffered a broken leg on Oct. 13, has outperformed Walker in two-plus seasons: Hutchinson has 28.5 sacks, 65 quarterback hits, 4 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 4 interceptions in 39 games. Walker is far from a bust, but he hasn't matched that production: 24 sacks, 44 quarterback hits, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 interception in 40 games.

Baalke did sign one of the league's better free agent classes in 2022, highlighted by receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, cornerback Darious Williams, tight end Evan Engram and right guard Brandon Scherff. All played a significant role in the team's AFC South title that season, as did free agent signees from a 2021 class that included cornerback Shaquill Griffin, receiver Marvin Jones Jr. and safety Rayshawn Jenkins in 2021.

But Baalke's most recent free agent class has been a major disappointment. The Jaguars gave a combined $75.5 million in fully guaranteed money to receiver Gabe Davis, safety/nickelback Darnell Savage, cornerback Ronald Darby, returner Devin Duvernay and defensive lineman Arik Armstead. None made a major impact on a 4-13 team.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- On his journey from low-level scout to highly coveted coordinator, Aaron Glenn told friends his "dream job" was to coach the New York Jets -- the franchise that made him a first-round pick in 1994.

It became reality Wednesday, as Glenn -- most recently the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator -- agreed in principle to become the 19th non-interim head coach in Jets history, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Glenn received a five-year contract, tying him to the Jets through 2029, sources told Schefter.

The Jets are still looking to hire a general manager. They conducted an in-person interview with former longtime Lions executive Lance Newmark, the only known candidate to have a second interview. Newmark, the Washington Commanders' assistant GM in 2024, overlapped with Glenn in Detroit from 2021 to 2023.

Cincinnati Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown and Denver Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey also will have second interviews, sources said.

The Jets long for stability and success. They're coming off their 14th straight season out of the playoffs, the longest active drought across America's four major men's sports leagues. The Jets will try to rebound from a turmoil-filled season that included the firings of coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas.

Because of the Lions' upset loss to the Commanders in the NFC divisional playoffs, Glenn became available sooner than expected. Wasting little time, the Jets hosted him for an in-person interview Tuesday -- 12 days after his virtual meeting with team officials.

Glenn spent seven hours at the facility and returned to his Detroit home Tuesday night as talks continued. The New Orleans Saints also showed strong interest. He finished his playing career in New Orleans and later became the secondary coach under Sean Payton.

Glenn, 52, a Bill Parcells disciple, joins the late Walt Michaels as the only two players in Jets history to coach the team. Michaels played one game as a player-coach in 1963 before becoming the head coach in 1977. Glenn starred for the Jets from 1994 to 2001, making two Pro Bowls.

Parcells said he expects Glenn to handle the New York pressure just fine.

"I think Aaron is going to be himself," the Hall of Fame coach told ESPN. "He's very straightforward. He's a very candid guy. I don't think that will be a problem, I really don't. I think he'll just be Aaron Glenn, and I think that will be fine. He's a very honest, principled guy. I have a high regard for him, I really do."

Glenn was involved in one of the most infamous plays in team history -- Dan Marino's fake spike in 1994. He was the corner who got beat on Marino's last-second touchdown pass. No one blamed Glenn; actually, he was one of the few players who wasn't duped by Marino's sleight of hand.

After 15 seasons as a player, on five different teams, Glenn returned to the Jets as a personnel scout in 2012-13. He transitioned into coaching, working as an assistant with the Cleveland Browns and Saints before landing in Detroit as Dan Campbell's defensive coordinator in 2021.

Glenn inherited the 32nd-ranked scoring defense. Under his guidance, the Lions improved to No. 7 in 2024 despite a litany of injuries. Their dream season ended with a thud, as Glenn's defense was overmatched in a 45-31 playoff loss to the Commanders.

Parcells, who speaks regularly with Glenn, praised him for paying his dues.

"I know he's done an awful lot of diligent work to prepare himself to be a pro coach," Parcells said. "He worked hard over the years. He started in scouting, which is a very good place to start, and learned about personnel acquisition, prototypes and things like that. He knows all that."

Glenn's new challenge is enormous.

None of the six coaches who preceded Glenn finished with a winning record. The last three -- Saleh, Adam Gase and Todd Bowles -- managed only one winning season between them. ESPN analyst Rex Ryan, one of the 16 interviewed for the job, was the last coach to make the playoffs (2010).

Glenn inherits a 5-12 team, but one that has several talented players in their prime. One of his biggest decisions will be quarterback Aaron Rodgers, 41, who is undecided on his future and is eager to meet with team officials to discuss their plans.

If they move on from Rodgers -- or if he decides to retire -- Glenn and the new GM will have to make a move for a quarterback because all they have on the roster is backup Tyrod Taylor and 2024 fifth-round pick Jordan Travis, who missed his rookie year because of injury.

Glenn also must sort out the wide receiver situation. Garrett Wilson is coming off a career year, but he was frustrated throughout the season and could ask for a trade or demand a contract extension. Former All-Pro Davante Adams was a productive midseason addition, but his remaining contract (two years, $72.5 million) needs to be renegotiated. If not, he will be released because the cap hit under his existing contract is prohibitive.

The Jets own the No. 7 pick in the draft and have a total of eight picks, but they have only $25 million in cap room, according to the Roster Management System. They have 23 unrestricted free agents, including six starters. It will take some creative cap management to improve the roster under these restrictions.

Glenn is the second Lions coordinator to leave the team for a head coaching opportunity this week. The Chicago Bears on Tuesday named Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson their new head coach.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Houston Texans might think Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs receive favorable calls from the game officials, but Mahomes doesn't agree.

"I don't feel that way,'' Mahomes said Wednesday as the Chiefs began preparations for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. "At the end of the day, the referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they possibly can. And all you can do is go out there and play the game that you love as hard as you can and live with the results. ... I think that's what we preach here in Kansas City.

"You get new referees every year, you get new circumstances, and you never can really tell because every play's different and that's what makes the NFL so special. I feel like I've just continued to play the game, and I just try to win, and whatever happens kind of happens.''

The Texans were twice penalized for hits against Mahomes in last week's divisional round game. Both happened on Chiefs scoring drives, with one being on third down to extend the drive.

"We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game," Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said after the 23-14 loss.

Chiefs versus Bills has developed into one of the NFL's top rivalries. This will be the fourth time in five seasons that the teams have met in the playoffs and their second matchup in the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs won the first three, but the Bills have won the regular-season matchup between the teams in each of the past four seasons.

The Bills handed the Chiefs one of their two losses this season, winning 30-21 in Week 11 in Buffalo.

"It's just two really good football teams going up against each other,'' Mahomes said. "They have great players at every level on both sides of the ball and they're well coached. And so, when you play great football teams like that, it kind of usually ends with that split type of deal there. We've been able to beat them in the playoffs and they've got us in the regular season. If you look at the games, every game's close, so it just comes out to a play here or there that makes an impact on the outcome.

"When you look at the great rivalries of the NFL, it comes with this. It comes with playing each other every year in the regular season and it comes with playing in the playoffs.''

Mahomes and his Buffalo counterpart, Josh Allen, have had some classic duels. None was better than the divisional round game in 2021, when the quarterbacks combined for seven touchdown throws and more than 700 passing yards as the Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime to advance to the AFC Championship Game.

"I've played against Josh enough times to know that he's going to come out there and play great football, especially in those big moments,'' Mahomes said. "I have to play my best football whenever I get the opportunity to and try to put our team in the best position to succeed. If that's limiting turnovers, if that's changing the field position, whatever that is, you have to find a way that day to win."

Wide receiver Mecole Hardman, one of last year's playoff stars for the Chiefs as they won their second consecutive Super Bowl, will not get a chance for a repeat performance. Coach Andy Reid said Hardman, who has a knee injury, will not be activated off the injured reserve list, meaning his season is over.

Hardman caught the winning touchdown in overtime in the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers last year.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt has been medically cleared to make his season debut on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors, barring any unforeseen setbacks, coach JJ Redick said Wednesday.

Saturday's game (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) will be Vanderbilt's first action in nearly a year after he suffered a right midfoot sprain on Feb. 1 that cost him the rest of last season.

He underwent procedures on both of his feet in the offseason -- opting for surgery on his right foot and removing a bone spur in his left foot in May. Those have sidelined him since the start of training camp in September, with his rehabilitation delayed in December when he experienced fluid in his left knee.

Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension in September 2023 following the Lakers' run to the Western Conference finals but has been largely unavailable since -- appearing in just 29 out of 129 games, including the regular season, in-season tournament, play-in tournament and playoffs.

Prior to his right foot injury last season, however, Vanderbilt was enjoying one of the most productive stretches of his career -- averaging 10.5 points on 66% shooting, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals over eight games.

The Lakers have made major changes since Vanderbilt last appeared on the court, replacing Darvin Ham with coach JJ Redick and recently swapping D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith, another forward with whom Vanderbilt will be competing for minutes within L.A.'s rotation.

Dallas Mavericks starting center Dereck Lively II is expected to miss two to three months, sources told ESPN, after he suffered a stress fracture in his right ankle.

Lively missed the past three games and had been listed as questionable for Wednesday night's home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but further testing revealed the fracture, sources said.

The Mavericks said Lively would be reevaluated in four weeks.

Lively, 20, has emerged as an essential player after playing a key role in Dallas' run to the NBA Finals as a rookie last season. He is averaging 9.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 blocks while shooting 70.1% from the floor this season.

The Mavericks (23-20) have lost 10 of 14 games since superstar Luka Doncic strained his left calf on Christmas. Doncic is scheduled to be reevaluated in the coming days, but no firm timetable has been set for his return.

Kyrie Irving has also missed time recently because of a bulging disk in his back. Irving said he will have to manage the injury for the rest of the season and hopes that he will not have to undergo surgery.

Daniel Gafford, who is averaging 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, provides the Mavericks a quality big man who can step into the starting role. But Dallas' big man depth is thin without Lively and third-string center Dwight Powell, who suffered a right hip strain Friday and will miss his second straight game against the Timberwolves.

The Miami Heat are planning to suspend star guard Jimmy Butler for two games, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday.

Butler missed a team flight earlier in the day and had plans to join the Heat on Wednesday night, sources said. Now Miami is keeping him home from its two-game road trip Thursday at Milwaukee and Saturday at Brooklyn.

Butler had just returned Friday from a seven-game team suspension for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team."

"Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team," the Heat said in a statement when Butler was first suspended Jan. 3. "Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers."

Sources told ESPN on Friday that the Heat want to find a deal to accommodate Butler's wishes. But the Heat seek a trade that brings back some combination of players who can help the Heat win now, draft capital, movable short-term salary and young talent.

To this point, however, that deal hasn't materialized, and it is far from certain one will before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.

For his part, Butler said Friday night that he and the franchise "are where we are" regarding their relationship less than three weeks before the trade deadline.

"I guess it's basketball at this point," Butler said after his return to the court in a loss to the Denver Nuggets. "I know what I'm expected to do while I'm here and try to do that to the best of my ability, but we are where we are."

When Butler was asked what would happen if he was still on the team Feb. 7, he smiled.

"We're playing a lot of 'what-ifs,' ain't we?" Butler said. "I'm going to hoop."

Last month, sources told Charania that Butler's list of preferred trade destinations included the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.

Butler is in the last guaranteed year of his contract; he has a player option worth more than $52 million for next season.

Information from ESPN's Tim Bontemps and The Associated Press was used in this report.

The Los Angeles Angels have signed two-time All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson to a minor league deal, USA Today reported Wednesday.

The 31-year-old free agent and former batting champion is looking to revive his career after a two-season slump.

Anderson slashed .245/.286/.296 with one home run in 123 games in 2023, his last season with the Chicago White Sox.

Things got worse in 2024 with the Miami Marlins, as he posted a .214/.237/.226 slash line with zero homers in 65 games.

Anderson led the majors with a .335 batting average in 2019 and made the American League All-Star teams in 2021 and 2022.

A first-round draft pick by Chicago (17th overall) in 2013, Anderson is a career .278 hitter with 98 home runs, 347 RBIs and 121 stolen bases in 960 games.

Field Level Media contributed to this report.

Reliever Paul Sewald has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Guardians, the team announced Wednesday.

The contract is worth $7 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The addition of the 34-year-old right-hander, who has 84 saves during an eight-year big league career, gives the Guardians a setup arm for closer Emmanuel Clase.

The deal includes a $10 million mutual option for 2026 with a $1 million buyout, according to sources and multiple reports, and includes a $1 million signing bonus and a $5 million salary this year, when he could earn $500,000 in performance bonuses for relief appearances.

Cleveland designated right-hander Pedro Avila for assignment to open a roster spot and also agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Riley Pint.

Sewald had a 4.31 ERA last year with 16 saves for the Arizona Diamondbacks, losing his closer's job at the start of August. He didn't make his season debut until May 7 due to a strained left oblique and didn't pitch after Sept. 8 due to discomfort on the left side of his neck. His fastball average velocity dropped to 91.4 mph from 92.2 mph.

Sewald is 20-25 with a 4.09 ERA for the New York Mets (2017-20), Seattle Mariners (2021-23) and Arizona (2023-24). He had a $7.35 million, one-year contract with the Diamondbacks last season.

Avila went 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 50 games for the Guardians, who acquired him in a trade last April from San Diego. The right-hander became an invaluable member of Cleveland's top bullpen as he provided long relief for first-year manager Stephen Vogt. He's the third reliever to leave the AL Central champions this winter, following Eli Morgan and Nick Sandlin, who were both traded.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Seeing a friendly face is supposed to be a good thing.

Yet when Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa take to the court for their Australian Open semi-final on Thursday, it may only add to the pressure.

The pair are close friends with Sabalenka going so far as to call Badosa her "soulmate" in Stuttgart last year.

"I love Paula very much," the 26-year-old Belarusian said.

"She is an incredible person. It is very important to have friends on the circuit, so when you find someone who you feel is your soulmate, it is the best thing that can happen to you."

Their friendship has grown over the past few years with the pair practising together and wearing matching outfits during the 2024 US Open, as well as posting about each other on social media.

"We realised that we had very similar personalities and we get along very well, and that we're both very, very competitive," Badosa told the Tennis Channel's Inside-In podcast, external in March.

"It's very nice for me having a friend on tour because it's very tough to find."

But with a place in the final at stake, that friendship will have to be put on hold in Melbourne.

This is not the first meeting between the two - they have played eight times before, with Sabalenka winning the past six - but it is comfortably the most high-profile.

World number one Sabalenka is bidding to win a third straight Australian Open title, while it is 27-year-old Badosa's first time in the last four of a Grand Slam.

The Spaniard shocked sixth seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals as her remarkable recovery from a back injury, that she feared would force her to retire only a year ago, continues.

"It's tough to play your best friend," Sabalenka said after beating Badosa in Stuttgart.

However, difficult as it may be, once they walk out on Rod Laver Arena, all sentiment will be put to one side.

"We know how to separate things," Badosa added.

"We decided a long time ago that off the court we are friends, while on the court she really wants to win, I really want to win," said Sabalenka, who beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter-finals.

"So on the court we are competitors and there is no place for friendship."