Marcus Freeman Discusses Future NFL Aspirations Amid Notre Dame Commitment
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish went 10-2 last year, marking a third straight double-digit win season. However, after not being selected to the College Football Playoff, Marcus Freeman and his team opted to decline an invitation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl. It’s the first time the Fighting Irish have not played in a bowl game since 2016.
While falling well short of a national championship, Freeman was receiving interest for positions away from Notre Dame. Before the hiring of John Harbaugh, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that Freeman was among the list of candidates for the New York Giants‘ head coaching vacancy.
Notre Dame reacted swiftly, signing Freeman to an enhanced deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. On the same day, the 40-year-old all but confirmed he will be returning to South Bend, tweeting, “2026…run it back Go Irish.”
However, during a Thursday appearance on “Good Morning Football,” Freeman opened up about potentially joining the NFL in the future.
“Never say never,” Freeman said. “Maybe I daydream every once in a while, where I think about it. When there was some interest this year, I said it in my press conference; it gave me the opportunity to gain knowledge on what being a head coach in the NFL truly entails.”
“I have the best job in America, and I say that with a strong conviction.”@NDFootball HC Marcus Freeman on his current role along with the potential of eventually being a NFL HC. pic.twitter.com/eH6YfuXXB7
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 5, 2026
His success with the Fighting Irish makes him an intriguing candidate for any team. Since taking over in 2021, he’s gone 43-12, 5-2 in bowl/playoff games and was the national championship runner-up in 2024.
Freeman did reiterate his commitment to Notre Dame, saying, “We’ll see what the future holds, but in this moment, in the near future, I am as convicted as I can be, being the head coach of this place.”
However, if he puts together another good season in 2026, the Fighting Irish may once again be fighting to keep him away from the NFL.
Related: Brent Venables Predicted to Beat Out Lane Kiffin for 4-Star Safety
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos