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Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman closed the door on NFL options Monday, announcing he will be back with the program for 2026.
Freeman made the announcement in a post on X.
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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with his players after winning an NCAA football game 36-7 against NC State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
“2026 … drive it back,” Freeman wrote. “Go Irish.”
Freeman’s name has been in the rumor mill since last season after the Chicago Bears began their search for a new head coach and before they ultimately hired Ben Johnson. Freeman’s name was linked to the New York Giants’ job as they will embark on their own head coaching search once the clock hits triple zero in their Week 18 game.
The smoke surrounding the rumors grew when Notre Dame was left out of the College Football Playoff and opted out of the bowl game. The NFL season has one more week in its regular season and teams will start making head coaching decisions very soon.
He previously spoke to Complex News about the possibility of jumping to the NFL.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team from the locker room to play the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on November 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
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“I often, not all the time, but when I feel like I can weave that into a message to the players that I’m reaching out to, and I say, ‘You don’t let other people’s noise become your noise.’ You don’t have to let someone else’s noise become my noise, do you? And somebody might say something to me, ‘Hey, your name’s ready for this job, okay?’ But it doesn’t have to be my noise. It doesn’t have to be the things I think about. I have to think about the value in the moment of the opportunity we have, but also use it as a feeling of gratitude.
“One, I have the utmost respect for the Giants organization. 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 were stinking. So I know we’re in this position because of the people. It’s not one person. It’s because of the people.”
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman speaks during media day prior to 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.
