For 2 years now, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has been a significant name of interest for NFL teams seeking to hire a brand new head coach. He saw early NFL interest two years ago but, ultimately, signed an extension to stick with the Fighting Irish. In keeping with Jason La Canfora on SportsBoom, Freeman has not slammed the door shut on an NFL future.
Freeman rose quickly through the collegiate coaching ranks, starting as a graduate assistant at his alma mater a 12 months after getting drafted out of Ohio State within the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He landed his first position coaching job the following 12 months because the Kent State linebackers coach and located his approach to the Power 5 level two years later in the identical position at Purdue. In his fourth season with the Boilermakers, Freeman was promoted to co-defensive coordinator, and a 12 months later, he got his first full defensive coordinator role at Cincinnati.
Freeman spent 4 years with the Bearcats, completely transforming the team’s defense and ending the 2020 season as a Broyles Award finalist as one in every of the NCAA’s best assistant coaches. In 2021, he left Cincinnati for Notre Dame and was named head coach when Brian Kelly left the varsity to assume the identical position at LSU. After losing the team’s bowl game in his first head coaching appearance, Freeman saw the team’s record improve annually under his leadership going 9-4 in 2022, 10-3 in 2023, 14-2 with a loss within the College Football Playoff National Championship game in 2024, and 10-2 as they only missed out on the CFP last 12 months.
Even before nearly winning a national championship in just his third full 12 months in any type of head coaching role, Freeman had already grow to be a right away name to look at in NFL circles. He was named a dark horse candidate for the Bears job that ultimately went to Ben Johnson after Freeman signed was is believed to have been a four-year extension to remain at Notre Dame. In 2025, he was a popularly rumored name with the Giants, Titans, and Steelers, but once more, he announced his intentions to stay with the Fighting Irish.
In keeping with La Canfora, Freeman claimed to have “gained some precious experience” from his most up-to-date cycle of NFL inquiries, and though he didn’t offer any type of timeline, Freeman didn’t appear to shut the door on eventually taking that next step to the NFL. As a young, fast-rising, defensive-minded coach, Freeman is anticipated to receive no shortage of NFL interest in the approaching years. When head coaching vacancies inevitably appear near the top of the 2026 season, search for Freeman’s name to return up, once more.