4 NFL Teams Interested In Notre Dame Coach Marcus Freeman

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If Marcus Freeman leaves Notre Dame in the next few years, there's a good chance he'll find himself coaching an NFL team.

After Notre Dame missed out on the final at-large bid for the College Football Playoff, athletic director Pete Bevacqua made it clear that Freeman would receive an enhanced contract for the 2026 season. The school is well aware that NFL teams have expressed interest in him over the past 12 months.

"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. And I can say with 100% certainty he feels that way, and Notre Dame is totally aligned around the importance of college football for Notre Dame," Bevacqua said. "We're totally aligned on how he is the perfect coach for Notre Dame."

Luckily for the Fighting Irish, they reached an agreement with Freeman on a new deal that'll keep him in South Bend for at least another year.

The Marcus Freeman sweepstakes could've been epic.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans had "internal discussions" about Freeman before he announced his return to Notre Dame.

Russini also said the Pittsburgh Steelers held discussions about Freeman. That would only be in the event that Mike Tomlin steps down during the offseason.

Unfortunately for NFL fans, Freeman won't be a legitimate option until 2027 at the earliest.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Jan 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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