Marcus Freeman has experienced a whirlwind stretch over the past year, both on and off the field.
To begin 2025, Freeman guided the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff national championship game against Ohio State Buckeyes. Although Notre Dame came up short, the run elevated Freeman’s profile nationally and placed him squarely on the radar as one of the most sought-after coaches in the sport.
Even after the Irish failed to qualify for the expanded 12-team playoff this season, Freeman continued to be linked to multiple high-profile openings — including potential interest from NFL teams.
Freeman appeared to quiet those rumors on December 29 with a post on X.
“2026… run it back. Go Irish,” Freeman wrote.
Go Irish ☘️
That message, however, has not stopped NFL teams from continuing to monitor his situation, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“These teams who viewed him highly believe there is a chance he comes to the NFL,” Rapoport said on January 11. “They still believe he is a top-tier candidate.”
That same day, Freeman’s name surfaced in an unrelated matter that drew widespread attention.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman Accused of Battery
According to reporting from the South Bend Tribune, Mishawaka police concluded an investigation into an incident involving Freeman that occurred January 3 during a high school wrestling tournament at Mishawaka High School.
The situation unfolded at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational, where Freeman was in attendance to support his son, Vinny, a senior wrestler at Penn High School. A New Prairie High School wrestling assistant coach later filed a police report accusing Freeman of battery following a confrontation that occurred after Vinny’s match.
Police completed their review of the incident and have submitted the case to the local prosecutor’s office, which will decide whether any charges are warranted. As of now, no charges have been filed, and there is no set timetable for a decision.
The Tribune reported that the incident stemmed from a verbal exchange after Vinny Freeman’s match, which he lost. As Marcus Freeman escorted his son away from the mat area, the interaction reportedly continued into a hallway, where police say physical contact was alleged to have occurred. Authorities did not detail the nature of that contact.
The situation escalated briefly before law enforcement and school officials intervened and separated those involved. While the Freeman family was not formally asked to leave the venue, they chose to depart before the event concluded.
Notre Dame Delivers Statement on Marcus Freeman
Notre Dame addressed the situation shortly after details of the investigation became public.
In a statement shared by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the university strongly denied the accusation.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” the statement read. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone.”
Notre Dame added that it believes video evidence included in the police report supports Freeman’s account and fully clears him of wrongdoing, calling the accusation “totally unfounded.”
At this time, there is no indication the university is concerned about Freeman’s standing, and the matter now rests with the prosecutor’s office. If video evidence is ultimately released or reviewed publicly, it could provide further clarity on what transpired during the incident.
Notre Dame Responds to Allegation Involving Head Coach Marcus Freeman