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Notre Dame Fighting Irish Head football coach Marcus Freeman closed the door on NFL opportunities Monday, announcing he would return to the program for 2026.
Freeman said this in a post on X.
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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with his players after winning a 36-7 NCAA football game against North Carolina State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, October 11, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (MICHAEL KLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
“2026… bring it back,” Freeman wrote. “Go Irish.”
Freeman's name came up in rumors last season, after the Chicago Bears began their search for a new head coach and before they ultimately hired Ben Johnson. Freeman's name has been associated with New York Giants“work as they will take up their own coaching business once the clock hits triple naughts for their Week 18 game.
The smoke surrounding the rumors intensified after Notre Dame was eliminated from the College Football Playoff and abandoned the bowl game. There's still one more week left in the NFL season in the regular season, and teams will start making head coaching decisions very soon.
He previously spoke with Comprehensive news about the possibility of moving to the NFL.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team from the locker room for a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acresure Stadium on November 15, 2025. (Charles LeClair/Imagn Images)
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“I often, not all the time, but when I feel like I can weave that into the message to the players I’m addressing, I say, ‘Don’t let other people’s noise become your noise.’” You shouldn't let other people's noise become my noise, right? And can someone say something to me: “Hey, you're applying for this job, okay?” But it doesn't have to be my noise. It doesn't have to be what I think about. I need to think in this moment about the value of the opportunities we have, but also use them as a feeling of gratitude.
“First of all, I have the utmost respect for the Giants organization. You talk about the history of the NFL, what a special organization. But secondly, it's also a thank you for your work, because you wouldn't say that if we stunk. So, I know that we are in this position because of people. This is not a person. It's because of the people.”
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman speaks during media day before the College Football Playoff National Championship game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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For now, Freeman will try to get back into contention for a national championship.
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