Marcus Freeman Addresses NFL Rumors, Says He's Committed to Notre Dame After CFP Snub

Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman reaffirmed his commitment to the Fighting Irish on Wednesday amid speculation and rumors connecting him to the NFL.

Freeman made those remarks when asked about NFL overtures during a press conference:

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Freeman was expected to stay at Notre Dame in 2026 despite several NFL teams having interest. He received an enhanced deal to stay with the program in December, although the NFL buzz persisted.

Notre Dame went 10-2 but finished one spot outside the College Football Playoff field. Three teams—the Fighting Irish, Alabama and Miami—were fighting for two at-large spots.

In the end, the committee rolled with Alabama and Miami, who jumped Notre Dame in the final ranking despite neither team playing during conference championship week. The Hurricanes did beat Notre Dame 27-24 on Aug. 31 to open the season.

The 40-year-old Freeman has been Notre Dame's head coach since Dec. 2021, when Brian Kelly left the program to become LSU's head coach.

Freeman's Notre Dame teams have gone 43-12 overall, with the highlight being the 2024 season, when the 14-2 Fighting Irish reached the national championship game.

Notre Dame fell to Ohio State, 34-24, but enjoyed one of its two best seasons since its last national title in 1988.

Nine NFL teams will change coaches next season, so there were multiple opportunities for Freeman to consider if he so chose. However, he'll be back in 2026 to lead Notre Dame.

The question is whether Freeman could consider further NFL opportunities down the road. He seemed to leave the door open a little when asked.

However, in the interim, Freeman is focused on Notre Dame as the team looks to return to the College Football Playoff. The 2026 season starts on Sept. 6 against Wisconsin in Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers.