Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman Announces NFL Coaching Decision

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has been the subject of NFL coaching rumors for months.

Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on from the sidelines in the first half during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Nov. 15, 2025. Justin Berl/Getty Images

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has been tied to NFL head coaching rumors for weeks amid the Fighting Irish’s abrupt end to the season.

Freeman announced on Monday via social media that he intends to stay in South Bend, Indiana, instead of leaping the professional ranks. He has a 43–12 career record with Notre Dame in five seasons.

“2026 … run it back,” Freeman posted on X Monday. “Go Irish.”

Freeman had received interest from several NFL teams, particularly the New York Giants. Both CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported that the Giants explored Freeman as a candidate. Freeman also acknowledged the Giants’ interest.

“Well, I think the gratitude you have for being mentioned by an organization like that. I have a lot of respect for all NFL teams, but the history of the Giants is tremendous,” Freeman told the New York Post on Dec. 21. “It reminds me of the honor I have to be in the position I’m in.”

“You wouldn’t have said that statement if I didn’t have this job and we weren’t having success. It’s a reminder for me that the people in our program, the work they put in results in an output that’s successful,” Freeman added.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, restructured Freeman’s contract, and Sports Illustrated reported that it’s among the upper echelon of college football head coaching salaries. Fighting Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua expressed the importance of keeping Freeman in South Bend during an interview.

“I would never say we wouldn’t match anything when it comes to Marcus,” Bevacqua told reporters on Dec. 10. “I make sure he knows that he will be where he deserves to be, and that is at the top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation every year.”

“I view his contract—although a multi-year contract—as a living, breathing document that we will revise every year as need be to make sure he’s where he needs to be,” Bevacqua added. “He knows he has that commitment from me and, more importantly, from the university.”

Freeman moved up from the defensive coordinator job in 2021 when former head coach Brian Kelly left for LSU. In five seasons, Freeman has already produced comparable results to Kelly with a national championship game appearance and two top-10 finishes.

This season, the Fighting Irish went 10–2 and fell short of the College Football Playoff as the 0–2 start made way for Miami instead. Freeman and company ultimately opted out of playing in a bowl game.

“He’s the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop,” Bevacqua said. “One of the greatest college coaches in the country. People forget how young he is.”

“So I get it, I get it, and that’s a compliment to him and his success and the way he represents himself and the way he prepares and who he is and how he talks,” Bevacqua added.

Notre Dame returns plenty of talent, including promising young quarterback C.J. Carr, to make a run at the national championship in 2026. The Fighting Irish have the No. 4-ranked recruiting class by 247Sports with five-star recruits such as tight end Ian Premer, safety Joey O’Brien, and edge rusher Rodney Dunham.

Notre Dame’s biggest roster hole is running back, with the departures of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The Irish could address that need and others once the transfer portal opens on Jan. 2.

In addition, Notre Dame has a new football facility opening in the summer, which could boost the future of the storied program. Freeman will get to build on that and the roster for 2026 with eyes on a national title.

“One of my main obligations and responsibilities to this university is to make sure Marcus wakes up every day knowing that he is supported and valued by Notre Dame,” Bevacqua said. “I can say with 100 percent certainty, he feels that way.”