Marcus Freeman has come up as a potential option to take over as a head coach in the NFL next year. The fourth-year Notre Dame head coach squashed that conversation Monday. The 39-year-old coach and Ohio State alum took to social media to indicate his plan for 2026.
“2026…run it back.” Freeman said in the post to X, formerly Twitter.
The post coincided with a report from Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde on Monday saying Freeman had informed a pair of NFL franchises that he would remain in South Bend. Freeman has reportedly been courted by multiple NFL teams since the end of the Fighting Irish’s season.
The Huber Heights, Ohio native has been a resounding success as Notre Dame’s head coach. The Irish have won 43 games under Freeman against just 12 losses. He carried the program to an appearance in the CFP National Championship last season against Ohio State.
Freeman’s Notre Dame squad has logged a 24-4 record over the last two seasons. Its 14 wins in 2024 were the most in a single season in program history. The Irish won 13 consecutive games last season.
Notre Dame was considered one of the biggest snubs of the CFP after being left off the bracket this season. Freeman led the Irish to a 10-2 record this season with the only two losses coming against CFP teams (Miami and Texas A&M).
The Irish lost the season opener against Miami by just 3 points, 27-24, on the road. The loss the Aggies just two weeks later was even closer with Notre Dame losing 41-40 at home. The team then proceeded to reel off 10 consecutive victories to end the season.
Freeman’s team opted not to participate in a bowl game and turned down its selection for the Pop-Tarts Bowl ending the season for the Irish.
Freeman Remains Locked In With The Irish
The decision by Freeman comes with a reported additional year on top of an reworked contract he agreed on last year to remain Notre Dame’s head coach. Freeman was reportedly slated to remain under contract through the 2030 season with his previous deal. Reports indicate he Notre Dame will tack on another year to his contract now that he is returning to South Bend.
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua was open about the program’s desire to retain Freeman earlier this month.
“It’s my, 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 told reporters. “And I can say with a hundred percent certainty, he feels that way. … 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. I view his contract, although a multi-year contract, as a living, breathing document that we will revise every year as need be to make sure he’s where he deserves to be. He knows he has that commitment from me, and more importantly, from the university.”
The New York Giants have been the NFL team most closely connected with Freeman this season.
Notre Dame Primed For Another Big Run
The Irish can continue planning for 2026 with Freeman now locked in. Notre Dame will return a big portion of the roster next season. At the top of the list is quarterback CJ Carr. The second-year freshman passed for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns this season.
He will give Freeman someone to build around on the offensive side of the ball. The Irish will need to replace several key players, including Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiyah Love, but return a number of important parts.
Defensively, Notre Dame will bring back a big portion of its contributors. It all sets up the Irish for another potential big season under Freeman.
The 15-year college coach took over the Irish in 2021 as Brian Kelly’s successor. He served as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator for one season before stepping into his current role. Freeman was the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati (2017-20) prior to his move to Notre Dame.
The Irish reached the CFP in two of the last three seasons.
