Marcus Freeman Reportedly Still Targeted by NFL Teams Despite New Notre Dame Contract

Despite Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman's recent commitment to the Fighting Irish with a restructured contract, NFL teams in need of a new head coach are still reportedly pursuing him.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday's episode of NFL GameDay Morning that "every NFL team that covets" Freeman "basically ignored" his announcement that he will remain at Notre Dame for the 2026 season.

Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated reported that Freeman and Notre Dame agreed to a restructured contract that put him in the "top tier" in compensation among college coaches. Rapoport reiterated that Freeman received a "contract adjustment, not extension," and went on to add that he's still viewed favorably in NFL circles.

"These teams who viewed him highly still believe there is a chance that he comes to the NFL," Rapoport said. "They still believe that he's a top-tier candidate."

Freeman led Notre Dame to a 10-2 record this season that ended with the team controversially being excluded from the College Football Playoffs. He led the Fighting Irish on a surprising run to the national championship game and a 14-2 record in the 2024 season.

There are eight head coaching vacancies in the NFL, so Freeman would have a slew of options in front of him if he chose to pursue a job at the professional level. Rapoport reported that he would expect Freeman to be able to skip a lengthy interview process and would instead join a team that definitively determines that "this is the guy we want."

For now, the Fighting Irish will have to continue hoping that they don't lose their head coach to the allure of the NFL, as the speculation surrounding Freeman is sure to continue for a while.