Irish Illustrated can confirm reports that Notre Dame linebackers coach Al Washington has accepted a position with the Miami Dolphins. 

Less than a month after becoming the Notre Dame linebackers coach, Washington will head to Miami Gardens to serve as the Dolphins’ defensive line coach. 

The news was first reported by John Brice of FootballScoop and Irish Illustrated. 

BREAKING: @NDFootball is losing veteran defensive assistant Al Washington to the @NFL‘s @MiamiDolphins, sources tell @FootballScoop. Full story here: https://t.co/yrwMUzl7ot

— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) January 30, 2026

Washington and newly hired Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley both spent time at Ohio State. Hafley served as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2019, the first of three years Washington coached the linebackers.

Hafley went on to become the head coach of Boston College from 2020 to 2023, where Washington played defensive tackle from 2002 to 2005. 

The Dolphins hired Hafley, the former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator, after parting ways with Mike McDaniel, who spent four seasons with the Dolphins. The Dolphins currently have the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Washington joined the Irish in 2022 as the defensive line coach, before being promoted to the defensive line coach and run game coordinator ahead of the 2023 season, a role that he held until his promotion to linebackers coach in early January. 

Washington has coached at the division one level since the 2012 season, with stops at Ohio State, Michigan, Cincinnati, and Boston College. His new role with the Dolphins will be his first time coaching in the NFL. 

In his time with Notre Dame, Washington served as the primary recruiter for five-star defensive edge recruit Rodney Dunham, per the 247Sports recruiting database. He also served as the primary recruiter for four-star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and four-star defensive lineman Bryce Young.

Washington is the third assistant that Notre Dame has lost this offseason. On Sunday, January 25, the Irish lost defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator, Mike Mickens, to the Baltimore Ravens. The Irish also lost former linebackers coach Max Bullough to Michigan State. 

The Irish will now seek to replace both Mickens and Washington as the team gears up for a deep College Football Playoffs run in 2026.