Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman turns down NFL jobs despite rumors

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

One of the top head coaching candidates for the New York Giants appears to now be off the board.

On Monday morning, Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman stated that he would be returning to South Bend for the 2026 season, despite a litany of rumors that he was garnering interest from the NFL circles, particularly with the Giants.

Freeman has found great success at the college level, going 43-12 during his five seasons as the head coach of the Fighting Irish, reaching the national championship a year ago, which his team lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Freeman announced that he would be returning to Notre Dame on his social media, stating that he would "run it back" next year.

While Freeman has been linked as a top candidate for multiple NFL jobs this cycle, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua has been adamant about trying to keep him in South Bend, stating that the team would do anything it could to retain him.

"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," Bevacqua said Dec. 9. "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. We're totally aligned on how he is the perfect coach for Notre Dame."

With this news now official, the Giants will have to focus their attention elsewhere in the coaching search. In the interim, Mike Kafka has been serving in the role after Brian Daboll was fired earlier this season.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Marcus Freeman to stay at Notre Dame despite rumors of NFL jump

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos