With five years of success in the books, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman’s NFL interest only escalated in recent weeks.
Freeman shot it all down with a simple social media post on Monday.
“2026…run it back,” Freeman wrote on X.com. “Go Irish.”
Notre Dame has gone 43-12 under Freeman, which includes a national championship game appearance. The Fighting Irish went 10-2 this season but missed the College Football Playoff and decided not to play in a bowl game.
Freeman acknowledged the New York Giants‘ interest in him during a Dec. 9 interview with Complex. He also used it as a teaching tool for his players.
“I often, not all the time, but when I feel like I can weave it into a message to the players I do address and I say, ‘You don’t let somebody else’s noise become your noise.’ You don’t have to allow somebody else’s noise become my noise, right? And somebody might say something to me, ‘Hey, your name’s up for this job, OK?’ But that doesn’t have to be my noise,” Freeman told Complex News.
“That doesn’t have to be the things I think about. I need to think about value in the moment for the opportunity that we have, but also use it as a sense of gratitude. One, I have the utmost respect for the Giants organization,” Freeman added. “You talk about the history of the NFL, what a special organization. But two, it’s also gratitude for the job you have because you wouldn’t have said that if we stunk. So, I know we’re in this position because of the people. It’s not a person. It’s because of the people.”
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua Adamant About Keeping Marcus Freeman
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua sounded confident back on Dec. 10 that he could keep Freeman in South Bend, Indiana.
“I would never say we wouldn’t match anything when it comes to Marcus,” Bevacqua told reporters. “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 needs to be.”
“He knows he has that commitment from me, and more important from the university,” Bevacqua continued.
Marcus Freeman Has Momentum For a Championship in 2026
Notre Dame expects to have quarterback C.J. Carr back amid a deep and talented roster. The Fighting Irish’s No. 4 recruiting class and whoever the program can lure through the transfer portal could position the team to get back into the College Football Playoff and win it all next season.
Bevacqua sees Freeman as the guy to lead it all, though the NFL interest was understandable.
“He’s the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop,” Bevacqua said. “One of the greatest college coaches in the country.”
“People forget how young he is,” Bevacqua continued. “So I get it, I get it, and that’s a compliment to him and his success and the way he represents himself and the way he prepares and who he is and how he talks.”
Marcus Freeman Sends Strong Message to Notre Dame Amid Coaching Rumors