Will Marcus Freeman return to Notre Dame as head coach in 2026?
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SOUTH BEND ― Six words and a shamrock emoji said everything.
Technically, it was five words and a date ― 2026 ― with the emoji at the end that were the first we’ve heard from Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman since the curtain closed on the 2025 Irish season.
The 39-year-old Freeman took to social media early Monday afternoon to write the following:
2026…run it back
Go Irish.
Freeman concluded the post with the shamrock as his way of saying that he will return for a fifth season in South Bend. Freeman, after leading the Irish to a 10-2 season, had gone radio silent since December 7 when Notre Dame was left on the outside looking in at the 12-team College Football Playoff.
2026…run it back
Go Irish ☘️
— Marcus Freeman (@Marcus_Freeman1) December 29, 2025
Irish players chose not to play in a bowl game while Freeman chose to say, well, nothing while his name was attached to the vacant head coaching position with the NFL’s New York Giants. It was reported that Freeman was a cursory candidate. It was reported that he was a serious candidate. Through it all, not a word from Freeman about the NFL, about Notre Dame, about his future. About anything.
Until Monday.
Notre Dame will return arguably its most talented roster and have its best recruiting class in program history in 2026 as it attempts to win the school’s first national championship since 1988.
Returning to Notre Dame also reportedly means a raise for Freeman, 43-12 in his first four seasons since taking over for Brian Kelly as head coach in December 2021. Last December, Freeman signed a multi-year contract extension (believed to be four years) that will run through the 2030 season and made him one of the highest compensated head coaches in college.
“The investment they continue to pour into our program is invaluable to our student-athletes and staff,” Freeman said then in a statement. “This commitment goes well beyond myself, as they are dedicated to ensuring all aspects of our program are competitive within the upper echelon of college football.”
This December, Notre Dame director of athletics Pete Bevacqua made it clear that Freeman would be among the most-highly compensated college head coaches in the country. Whatever it took from a dollars standpoint to keep Freeman, Bevacqua said in a meeting with local media on December 9, Notre Dame would do it. It made too much sense.
“He’s more than the Notre Dame football coach,” Bevacqua said. “He’s part of the fabric of this university. He’s an amazing leader. We feel blessed that he’s our coach. I make sure that he knows that he will be where he deserves to be and that is at the top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation every year.”
Freeman reportedly had one year added to his contract – which will run through 2031.
No more NFL concerns. No more contract concerns. Though he never left, Freeman is back at Notre Dame.
Onward to 2026.
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Marcus Freeman announces return to Notre Dame football in 2026
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