Marcus Freeman's Future Discussed By Notre Dame AD Amid Giants, NFL HC Rumors

Notre Dame athletics director Pete Bevacqua says he is ready to fight to keep football coach Marcus Freeman in South Bend.

Bevacqua was asked during a Tuesday press conference about speculation Freeman could be pursued by NFL teams following Notre Dame's snub from the 2025 College Football Playoff.

"Everybody has eyes on Marcus. College has eyes on Marcus. NFL has eyes on Marcus... all the credit to him, he deserves it," Bevacqua answered.

Bevacqua also said Notre Dame would "never say we wouldn't match anything" regarding competing salary offers for Freeman.

"We're totally aligned on how he is the perfect coach for Notre Dame... 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," Bevacqua said.

"I view his contract, although a multi-year contract is a living, breathing document that we will revise, every year, as need be to make sure he's where he deserves to be. He knows he has that commitment from me, and more importantly from the university."

Freeman led the Fighting Irish to bowl game appearances in his first two seasons with the program, then made it to the national championship game last season.

He last reworked his contract with two years remaining on his deal ahead of that 2024 playoff run. The four-year extension reportedly gave him a raise and stretched his deal through the 2030 season.

Bevacqua said Tuesday he expected Notre Dame's CFB snub to serve as "motivation" for Freeman next season. The Irish were left out of the 12-team playoff in favor of Miami despite being listed above the Hurricanes in every CFP ranking heading into Decision Day.

There are already two NFL head coaching jobs open ahead of the end of the 2025 season with the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants. SNY's Connor Hughes recently reported the Giants "want a CEO-type coach," and that "the candidate pool will include college coaches."

Should the Giants pursue Freeman, the team might have to compete both with the raise it sounds like Bevacqua is prepared to offer him as well as the buyout it would take to hire him away from Notre Dame.