Notre Dame Fighting Irish Head Coach Marcus Freeman to Stay Put Amid NFL Interest.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is expected to remain at the helm of the Fighting Irish for at least the 2026 season despite intense interest from the NFL. The 40-year-old Freeman, who recently received an enhanced deal to stay on as coach, appears to have turned down lucrative offers to join one of several NFL teams in search of a head coaching position.
The news comes after Notre Dame's highly anticipated College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process ended with the Fighting Irish being snubbed by the selection committee. The decision sparked widespread criticism and drama, with many analysts and fans questioning why the team chose not to participate in a college bowl game, potentially denying players who won't get to play in one last game before leaving college football.
Freeman, who has been part of the Notre Dame program since 2021, will address the media for the first time since the CFP decision and National Signing Day at a press conference on Wednesday. The news comes as no surprise, however, given Freeman's strong track record at the school, which includes a 10-2 season last year.
The NFL interest in Freeman has been a topic of discussion for months, with several teams rumored to be eyeing him as their next head coach. These include the New York Giants, who fired Brian Daboll during the season, and the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, which recently lost coaches John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin.
It remains to be seen whether Freeman's decision is a long-term one, but for now, he appears committed to leading the Fighting Irish into what promises to be an exciting 2026 season.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is expected to remain at the helm of the Fighting Irish for at least the 2026 season despite intense interest from the NFL. The 40-year-old Freeman, who recently received an enhanced deal to stay on as coach, appears to have turned down lucrative offers to join one of several NFL teams in search of a head coaching position.
The news comes after Notre Dame's highly anticipated College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process ended with the Fighting Irish being snubbed by the selection committee. The decision sparked widespread criticism and drama, with many analysts and fans questioning why the team chose not to participate in a college bowl game, potentially denying players who won't get to play in one last game before leaving college football.
Freeman, who has been part of the Notre Dame program since 2021, will address the media for the first time since the CFP decision and National Signing Day at a press conference on Wednesday. The news comes as no surprise, however, given Freeman's strong track record at the school, which includes a 10-2 season last year.
The NFL interest in Freeman has been a topic of discussion for months, with several teams rumored to be eyeing him as their next head coach. These include the New York Giants, who fired Brian Daboll during the season, and the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, which recently lost coaches John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin.
It remains to be seen whether Freeman's decision is a long-term one, but for now, he appears committed to leading the Fighting Irish into what promises to be an exciting 2026 season.
what's holding him back from taking the big bucks? maybe it's the drama he'd have to deal with in the nfl, idk... but i do know i'm glad he decided to stay at notre dame - those players deserve a proper sendoff 
I mean, it makes sense that Coach Freeman would stick with Notre Dame right now. The drama around the CFP snub was pretty intense and I can imagine how hard that must've been for him. On top of that, getting out of college coaching could be a big risk, especially if he's not sure what's next. Plus, the NFL offers a ton of money, but it comes with its own set of challenges - like dealing with all the politics and egos on those team sidelines 
. I'm curious to see how he'll handle all the questions about why he stayed in college football, though... might be an interesting press conference 
i mean, who would've thought freeman'd stick around when all those natty fans were losing their minds over the cfp snub? 
he's got the whole school talking, and now he gets to address the drama himself. can't wait for that presser on wednesday 
gonna be juicy, imo
. I mean, Notre Dame has come so far under his leadership and it would've been a huge loss if he left. Plus, can you imagine who they'd have gotten instead? It's not like the NFL had some amazing young coaches in their ranks, but still... it's one thing to be interested in a big league gig, but another to leave a program that needs stability right now 
. The whole CFP snub situation was pretty wild too, and I'm glad he addressed it in his press conference. Now on to the 2026 season – bring it on! 
I'm not surprised at all that Marcus Freeman decided to stay put! The guy's been killing it on the sidelines since 2021 and has already led the team to a 10-2 season last year 
And honestly, I think it's awesome that he's choosing to stay loyal to his school and his players instead of chasing a quick buck elsewhere 
. Can't wait to see what he does in 2026 - I'm sure it'll be another year to remember! 
and let's be real, his record speaks for itself 10-2 last year? 
its crazy tho cuz fans are still reelin from gettin snubbed and wonderin why they didnt take part in a bowl game 
anyhoo, freeman seems like a stand-up guy w/ a solid track record so i guess we can expect more of the same 
. I mean, can you blame him? He's got a solid team and the fans love him 
The selection committee might've gotten booed off campus, but I think Freeman made the right call 
