We estimate strong coupling constant between the negative parity nucleons with $pi$ meson within the light cone QCD sum rules. A method for eliminating the unwanted contributions coming from the nucleon--nucleon and nucleon--negative parity nucleon transition is presented. It is observed that the value strong coupling constant of the negative parity nucleon $N^ast N^ast pi$ transition is considerably different from the one predicted by the 3--point QCD sum rules, but is quite close to the coupling constant of the positive parity $N N pi$ transition.