As the NFL head coaching landscape evolves, two vacancies are currently open, with more expected by January. Notre Dame’s athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, believes that head coach Marcus Freeman is attracting considerable attention from the NFL. Freeman is reportedly the leading candidate for the New York Giants’ position.
Marcus Freeman’s Coaching Career
Marcus Freeman, aged 39, has been at the helm of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish since late 2021, following Brian Kelly’s departure to LSU. Before his promotion, Freeman served as the team’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. His coaching journey includes a successful tenure at Cincinnati from 2017 to 2020, where he similarly held the roles of defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
During his time at Notre Dame, Freeman has achieved an impressive 43-12 record, guiding the team to the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship game in the 2024 season, where they faced Ohio State. This match held special significance for Freeman, as it was against his alma mater.
NFL Interest and Future Prospects
Despite lacking direct NFL coaching experience, Freeman has had a brief stint with teams like the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans before retiring due to health issues. Bevacqua is proactive in his support for Freeman, recognizing the possibility of losing him to NFL teams.
- Bevacqua confirmed that Notre Dame prioritizes retaining Freeman.
- He assures that Freeman will be compensated competitively among top college coaches.
- Bevacqua emphasizes Freeman’s value to the program and the importance of college football at Notre Dame.
As the NFL’s regular season approaches its conclusion, more interest in Freeman as a candidate is likely to surface. Bevacqua aims to mitigate this by reinforcing Freeman’s worth to the Fighting Irish.
