photo courtesy: Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images
It’s possible that Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman would want to make the jump from college to the NFL. It’s also possible he may not want to coach in East Rutherford, NJ, where it’s rumored he could go; if you breathe the wrong way, the fan base is impatient and fickle.
Additionally, he already has a great gig with the Irish, and after deciding to skip their bowl game this season, he may be more motivated to run it back in college and win Notre Dame’s 12th national title.
If the Notre Dame HC were to decide right now, he might pass on the NFL and continue to build on what he has already established in South Bend.
Marcus Freeman Should Stay at Notre Dame
Before Freeman ever put on a headset, he became a standout five-year letterman for the Ohio State Buckeyes as a linebacker. From 2004-08, the 39-year-old head coach played with passion, and the team considered him the heart and soul of those Ohio State teams.
In 2009, the Chicago Bears selected Freeman in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. After the Bears released him, he joined the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad and finally settled in with the Houston Texans.
Due to a failing heart condition in 2010, Freeman retired from the NFL. The youngster realized the next best thing was to stay in football, where he put the headset on and became a coach.
Freeman’s First Coaching Job
In 2010, the Ohio University Bobcats hired Freeman as a graduate assistant. In 2011, Freeman stayed in Ohio, where he earned his first position as a linebackers coach at Kent State.
After he played the position, Freeman settled into the job quite easily and remained there until after the 2012 season. After the first time putting that headset on, Freeman prepared himself for his next job.
Purdue University BoilerMakers (2013-2016)
Freeman’s first Power Four gig came in the Hooiser State of Indiana. With the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten Conference, he started out as a linebackers coach from 2013 to 2015. He was then promoted to co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach.
Cincinnati Bearcats (2017-2021)
Before the Bearcats joined the Big 12 in 2023, they enjoyed a successful five-year run as one of the best group of five teams in the nation. Luke Fickell, who now coaches the Wisconsin Badgers, coached the Bearcats during that reign.
In fact, his defensive coordinator/linebackers coach happened to be Freeman, and what a run during that time. Freeman transformed a Bearcats defense into one of the best in the nation, and the Bearcats became a national power in the AAC.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2021-Present)
Freeman’s stellar job at Cincinnati caught the attention of then-Irish head coach Brian Kelly, who hired him to be his defensive coordinator/linebackers coach. Freeman became the new Fighting Irish head coach after Kelly departed to become the LSU Tigers’ head coach.
After losing the Fiesta Bowl to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Irish took off under Freeman and have compiled a 43-12 record in only four years at Notre Dame.
After running the table in 2024 to make it to the CFP national championship game, the Irish had hoped to make it in 2025. Unfortunately they were left out in favor of Miami and Alabama (surprise, surprise). Because of that, the team opted out of its bowl game against BYU, and the two schools will face each other next year rather than in the USC/Notre Dame series.
The question is: Will Freeman coach this new “Catholics vs. Mormons” matchup, or will he take a HC position in the NFL?
The Final Verdict
No, Freeman should not take the Giants’ job; instead, he should stay at Notre Dame to continue winning a national championship, rather than jeopardizing his career by failing in the NFL and enduring it in one of the league’s most hostile fanbases and media markets.
To me, he is built to be an NFL coach eventually. He is a motivational leader type who brings energy and gives his players a positive vibe. He should choose to stay at Notre Dame for a few more years and then wait for a better opportunity in the NFL down the road.
