Notre Dame football can rest easy knowing that Marcus Freeman is unlikely to be poached by any NFL team in the near future. The Fighting Irish have secured him with a significant long-term extension, especially in light of recent rumors regarding the Chicago Bears.
According to NBC Sports college football insider Nicole Auerbach, Freeman’s contract will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the nation and ensures that one of college football’s promising talents remains at Notre Dame for years ahead.
This signing is especially important for a Notre Dame team aiming for a national title, as Freeman led the Irish to secure one of the 12 playoff spots in the inaugural College Football Playoffs.
Additionally, this decision indicates that Freeman is not planning to leave for the NFL. Despite speculation about the Bears being interested in him, the Notre Dame head coach stated that he has a deep affection for the school and his players and has no intention of departing from South Bend.
Notre Dame football has thrived immediately under Marcus Freeman
In 2021, Notre Dame found itself with one of the most sought-after coaching positions in college football when Brian Kelly departed for LSU.
With Kelly leaving his head coaching role in South Bend, Freeman, who had been serving as the defensive coordinator on Kelly’s staff, was promoted to interim head coach for the Fiesta Bowl while Kelly transitioned to his new position at LSU.
Some fans speculated that Freeman would join Kelly in Baton Rouge, while others believed Notre Dame would seek out more high-profile coaching candidates and overlook Freeman. Ultimately, Notre Dame opted to promote Freeman from within.
As head coach, Freeman has achieved a 30-9 overall record, and Notre Dame has an 11-4 mark against ranked opponents during his tenure.
With Freeman poised to remain in South Bend for the foreseeable future, attention turns back to the CFP playoffs. On December 20, No. 5 Notre Dame will host No. 8 Indiana to kick off the postseason. Freeman and the Irish are anticipating some much-needed depth ahead of the matchup.
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