- Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (58th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Missouri. Returned to Arizona in a trade from the Giants in Week 7 of the 2020 season.
- In seven NFL seasons, has appeared in 94 games (54 starts) and totaled 275 tackles, 44.5 sacks, 110 QB hits, 55 tackles for loss, an INT, seven passes defensed, 11 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD) with the Cardinals (2015-18, 20-21) and Giants (2019-20).
- Recorded 48 tackles, 11.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 19 QB hits, 4 forced fumbles (3 strip-sacks) and two fumble recoveries in 2021. He joined NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt as the only players in the NFL with 10+ sacks, 4+ forced fumbles and 2+ fumble recoveries last season.
- Had 2.0+ sacks in a game three times in 2021. He had four such games in his first six NFL seasons combined (2015-20).
- The 2021 season was Golden's third with 10+ sacks and his second as a member of the Cardinals (12.5 in 2016). Dating back to 2016, only Pro Bowl pass rushers Chandler Jones (5), Myles Garrett (4), Joey Bosa (4), Cameron Jordan (4) and T.J. Watt (4) have more seasons with 10+ sacks.
- There have been just four seasons in Cardinals history in which multiple players recorded 10+ sacks. Golden and Chandler Jones (2016 and 2021) accounted for two of those seasons.
- Set single-season career highs in tackles (72) and QB hits (27) while leading the Giants with 10.0 sacks during his first season with New York in 2019.
- Had career highs with 12.5 sacks (tied for third in the NFL), 16 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles during breakout campaign with the Cardinals in 2016.
Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (58th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft and played 46 games (24 starts) for Arizona before signing with the Giants as an unrestricted free agent on 3/15/19. Played 23 games (17 starts) for the Giants before being traded to the Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on 10/23/20. Agreed to terms with the Cardinals on a two-year contract on 3/15/21.
2021: Saw action in 16 games (five starts) during the regular season and led the team with 11.0 sacks while adding 48 tackles (33 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 19 QB hits, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries ... tied for 11th in the NFL in sacks, tied for seventh in forced fumbles and tied for eighth in fumble recoveries ... also played Wild Card matchup and posted his first career postseason sack … tallied one tackle, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery leading to a Cardinals TD on the ensuing drive @ Ten (9/12) ... recorded three tackles, a sack and a forced fumble for a defense that held the Vikings to just three second half points vs. Min (9/19) ... recorded two tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and two QB hits @ Jax (9/26) ... tallied two tackles (both solo), a QB hit and a forced fumble for a defense that led the NFL in forced fumbles (9) and fumble recoveries (five) through Week 4 @ LAR (10/3) ... turned in five tackles, 2.0 sacks, two QB hits, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble @ Cle (10/17); joined Steelers LB T.J. Watt as the only NFL players with at least 4.0 sacks and three forced fumbles through six games ... registered three tackles (two solo), 2.0 sacks, one tackle for loss, three QB hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for a defense that held the Texans to just 42 rushing yards and shut them out in the second half vs. Hou (10/24); his fumble and own recovery resulted in an Arizona TD on the ensuing drive; coupled with his two-sack performance in Week 6, Golden has recorded multiple sacks in back-to-back games for the first time since 2016 ... totaled five tackles (two solo) and two QB hits vs. GB (10/28); two of his tackles came on third down stops on back-to-back drives in the first quarter, both forcing a Packers punt ... registered five tackles (three solo), a career-high 3.0 sacks, three tackles for loss and three QB hits for a defense that held the NFL's 10th-ranked rushing offense to just 39 yards on 11 carries @ SF (11/7); marked the third time in four games he recorded at least 2.0 sacks; his three games with 2.0+ sacks in 2021 are the most in a single season in his career ... made three solo tackles and added one sack, two tackles for loss and one QB hit for a defense that held the Seahawks to just 13 points and has allowed 20 or fewer points an NFL-leading eight games through Week 11 @ Sea (11/21); reached 10.0 sacks in 2021, marking his third career season with 10.0+ sacks and his second with the Cardinals (2016) ... registered eight tackles (all solo), 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss and two QB hits @ Det (12/19) ... made three tackles (two solo), a sack, a tackle for loss and a QB hit in his and Arizona's first playoff berth since the 2015 season @ LAR (1/17/22).
2020: Played nine games (eight starts) with Arizona and recorded 25 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 15 QB hits, one INT, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery after being acquired by the Cardinals in a Week 7 trade with the Giants ... totaled 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, six QB hits and a pass defensed in seven games (one start) for the Giants … recorded three tackles, a half-sack and two QB hits @ Dal (10/11) … notched a sack and a QB hit on Thursday Night Football @ Phi (10/22) ... had five tackles, a sack and a pass defensed in his return to Arizona vs. Mia (11/8); sacked Tua Tagovailoa for a six-yard loss to help hold the Dolphins to a FG before half ... registered a team-high three QB hits on Thursday Night Football @ Sea (11/19) ... registered three tackles, a tackle for loss and his first career INT @ NE (11/29); intercepted a Cam Newton pass on the game's third play from scrimmage, setting up a Cardinals TD three plays later ... posted three QB hits and two solo tackles, including a third down stop to force a FG in the third quarter vs. LAR (12/6) ... had two tackles, 1.0 sack, a QB hit, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery @ NYG (12/13) just 52 days after being traded to the Cardinals by the Giants; sacked Daniel Jones at the Giants 44-yard line, causing a fumble that he scooped and returned 30 yards on the fifth play of the game ... totaled five tackles, a tackle for loss and a QB hit vs. Phi (12/20); brought down Jalen Reagor for a 10-yard loss on an end around.
2019: Started all 16 games and led the Giants with 10.0 sacks while setting career highs in tackles (72) and QB hits (27) … first Giants player with double-digit sacks since Jason Pierre-Paul (12.5 in 2014) and the first Giants LB to accomplish the feat since Lawrence Taylor had 10.5 in 1990 … totaled six tackles, a sack and two QB hits vs. Buf (9/15); dropped Josh Allen for a seven-yard loss in the first quarter … tallied five tackles, two sacks and four QB hits @ TB (9/22); forced a punt with a two-yard sack of Jameis Winston on third-and-eight … returned a Tom Brady fumble 42 yards for his first career TD @ NE (10/10); had three tackles, a half-sack, a QB hit and a fumble recovery against the Patriots … posted four tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and two QB hits @ NYJ (11/10); brought down Sam Darnold for a seven-yard sack on third-and-13 to force a second quarter punt … had four tackles, matched a career high with three tackles for loss and sacked Mitch Trubisky on third-and-10 to force a punt @ Chi (10/24) … collected a season high eight tackles and a QB hit vs. GB (12/1) … tallied a season high four QB hits and sacked Carson Wentz for a 12-yard loss on third-and-13 to end the Eagles opening possession @ Phi (12/9) … had five tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and three QB hits @ Was (12/22).
2018: Totaled 30 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two passes defensed and six QB hits in 11 games (all starts) after being activated from the PUP list in Week 1 … inactive (knee) vs. Was (9/9), @ LAR (9/16) and @ SF (10/7) … returned to the starting lineup vs. Chi (9/23) after missing 14 games due to a knee injury suffered the previous season … started and played 34 defensive snaps, notching two tackles for a unit that did not allow a third down conversion vs. Sea (9/30) … paired with Chandler Jones to take down Kirk Cousins, forcing the Vikings to punt on its first drive of the fourth quarter @ Min (10/14); had three tackles, two QB hits and a pass defensed … sacked C.J. Beathard for an eight-yard loss on third-and-six to force a punt on the 49ers first possession of the game vs. SF (10/28); totaled seven tackles, two for loss, one QB hit, a sack and a pass defensed against the 49ers … recorded three tackles, including one for loss, for a unit that held the NFL's top-ranked scoring offense to a season-low 26 points @ KC (11/11) … had three tackles and a QB hit for a defense that held Aaron Rodgers to a 4.66 yards-per-pass-attempt average (233 yards on 50 attempts) and a 79.8 passer rating @ GB (12/2) … sacked Matt Ryan for a five-yard loss on the fourth play from scrimmage @ Atl (12/16); had two tackles, one tackle for loss, a QB hit and a sack against the Falcons … inactive (ankle) vs. LAR (12/23) and @ Sea (12/30).
2017: Started the first four games and collected 11 tackles, one tackle for loss and four QB hits before suffering a season-ending knee injury … posted four tackles and a QB hit @ Ind (9/17) … recorded three tackles, one for loss and three QB hits vs. Dal (9/25) … had three tackles before leaving the game with a knee injury in OT vs. SF (10/1) … placed on injured reserve (knee) on 10/2.
2016: Played in all 16 games (three starts) and tied for third in the NFL with a career-high and team-leading 12.5 sacks … also led the team with 16 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with four forced fumbles … became the first player in franchise history with at least one sack in each of the first five games of a season and finished the year with at least one sack in each of the final four contests … combined with Chandler Jones (11.0) to become the Cardinals first double-digit sacks duo since 1984 and just the third in franchise history … added 51 tackles, one passes defensed, a fumble recovery and 22 QB hits … had a sack and forced fumble of Jimmy Garoppolo in the second quarter that led to a Cardinals TD vs. NE (9/11); added two tackles including one for loss … sacked Jameis Winston for a nine-yard loss vs. TB (9/18); also had a tackle for loss … brought down Tyrod Taylor for an eight-yard loss in the third quarter @ Buf (9/25); also recorded six tackles, including one for loss … collected two tackles, one for loss and a sack vs. LAR (10/2); 14-yard sack of Case Keenum marked his fourth straight game with a sack, joining Chandler Jones (also in 2016) as the only players in team history with a sack in each of a season's first four games … registered a career-high 10 tackles and 2.0 sacks while adding two tackles for loss and three QB hits @ SF (10/6); became the first player in team history with at least one sack in each of first five games of a season … had two tackles and forced a Russell Wilson fumble while leading the team with four QB pressures and three QB hits vs. Sea (10/23) … notched three tackles, including one for loss @ Car (10/30) … had two QB hits and sacked Matt Ryan for six-yard loss to force a punt on the opening drive of the third quarter @ Atl (11/27) … recovered a Kirk Cousins fumble in the third quarter and returned it 20 yards to set up a go-ahead TD vs. Was (12/4); added two tackles … sacked Drew Brees in the second quarter, forced a fumble that Calais Campbell returned 53 yards for a TD vs. NO (12/18); added two tackles … became the first Cardinal with 10.0+ sacks in a season since John Abraham (11.5 in 2013) with a team-high 2.0 @ Sea (12/24); also had three tackles, including two for loss and three QB hits … recorded a career-best 2.5 sacks, a team-high three tackles for loss, three QB hits, one pass defensed and a forced fumble @ LAR (1/1/17); collected 5.5 sacks in season's last three games.
2015: Played in 15 games (six starts) and totaled 30 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 12 QB hits, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one special teams tackle … started both playoff games and had 10 tackles and one QB hit … recorded three tackles in his NFL debut vs. NO (9/13) … had two tackles and his first career sack (split with Kareem Martin) @ Chi (9/20) … paired with Calais Campbell to record a half-sack, adding two tackles on defense and one on special teams vs. StL (10/4) … made first career start and recorded a season-high six tackles, including two for loss @ Pit (10/18) … recorded one tackle for loss and a QB hit @ Cle (11/1) … totaled three tackles and sacked Andy Dalton in the fourth quarter, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Deone Bucannon and set up a FG vs. Cin (11/22); marked his first career full-sack and forced fumble ... had two tackles and split a sack with Kevin Minter to force a punt on the game's opening possession @ SF (11/29) … sacked Sam Bradford and forced a fumble that was recovered by Frostee Rucker in the third quarter @ Phi (12/20); also had four tackles and two QB hits … notched three tackles, one for loss and contributed a half-sack to the Cardinals third-best single-game sacks total (9.0) in franchise history vs. GB (12/27); marked the team's most sacks in a game since recording 10.0 @ Phi (12/7/86) … inactive (knee) vs. Sea (1/3/16) … had three tackles and a QB hit in the Divisional Playoff vs. GB (1/16/16) … collected seven tackles including one for loss in NFC Championship Game @ Car (1/24/16).
In three seasons at Missouri, appeared in 39 games (13 starts) and registered 143 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and an INT … returned a fumble recovery 30 yards for a TD (2014) and his only career interception 70 yards for a TD (2013) … voted a team co-captain by his teammates as a senior in 2014 … started 13 games and earned second-team All-SEC honors at DE from the league's coaches and was an Associated Press honorable mention All-SEC selection as well ... totaled 78 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks and a team-high 12 QB hurries ... also forced three fumbles and recovered three more ... ranked ninth in the nation in tackles for loss and was 20th nationally in sacks … had a career performance in his final college game, earning MVP honors at the Citrus Bowl with a game-high 10 tackles, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks … switched to DE as a junior after beginning college career at LB and was arguably MU's most productive DE in 2013 despite playing only about 40 percent of the snaps ... led the team's DEs with 55 tackles on the year, adding 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks with eight passes defensed ... appeared in all 12 games in 2012, playing primarily on special teams in his first season with Missouri after transferring from Hutchinson Junior College … totaled 10 tackles and forced a fumble ... was a key performer on various special teams units and helped clear the way for return man Marcus Murphy on each of his record-setting three punt return TDs on the season ... redshirted in 2011 to focus on academics … had 90 tackles, 26 for loss, 10.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and a pair of INTs as a freshman at Hutchinson JC in 2010.
Record-setting RB and LB at Affton (St. Louis, MO) High School ... as a senior, ran for a record 2,264 yards and 30 TDs while collecting 108 tackles and 10.0 sacks ... posted a school-record 168 tackles and 16.0 sacks as a junior, while rushing for 1,139 yards and 16 TDs … was a team captain each of his final two years … Arizona entered the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft with the 55th overall pick but traded it to Baltimore and acquired an extra fifth-round choice (158th overall) before selecting Golden ... in May of 2015, his high school number (2) was retired … hosted his fourth annual free youth football camp in his hometown of St. Louis in June of 2019.
