Just when it looked like Notre Dame had finally tamped down all the controversy and drama of the winter, defensive backs coach Mike Mickens is headed to the NFL.
Late Sunday night, news broke that the highly respected Irish assistant would join new Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter's staff. CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz was the first to report that Mickens will be the Ravens' defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach.
The loss of Mickens was a shock, as there wasn't a lot of warning that this move was coming. On the other hand, Notre Dame has been preparing to lose him at some point for the last few seasons. He's a coach that Marcus Freeman has often talked about moving up the ladder.
The #Ravens are hiring Notre Dame’s Mike Mickens as defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach, sources tell @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/7WTRy7rwSG
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 26, 2026
Why losing Mike Mickens is a major test for Marcus Freeman
The real question now is how Freeman and his staff rebound from the loss. There's really no debate that Mickens leaves the secondary in a much better state than he found it in 2020.
Over the last few years, it's been one of the best secondaries in the country. Xavier Watts, Benjamin Morrison, and Kyle Hamilton are already looking like some of the best in the NFL at their respective positions. Then there are guys like Leonard Moore and Mark Zackery who are up and coming and could follow in those footsteps soon.
Mickens has been a great position coach, but he's also been a phenomenal recruiter. Make no mistake, his leaving is a gut punch for Notre Dame.
That's not to say that the Irish won't be able to bounce back. The departure of Al Golden was a bad one as well; however, after some early missteps, Chris Ash has managed to continue leading one of the best defenses in college football.
There is a bright side to the timing of Mickens leaving. With the portal closed and the next big thing being spring practice, there is no rush to hire a replacement. Freeman can take his time and make sure he does it right.
Still, it will certainly be interesting to see how the Notre Dame defensive backs look in 2026 compared to how they've looked over the last few seasons. It's another uncertainty the Irish didn't need in a season where they have to get back to the College Football Playoff.