Marcus Freeman has made it clear to interested NFL teams that he plans to remain at Notre Dame.

Exhale Notre Dame fans, Marcus Freeman isn’t leaving South Bend.

The in-demand coaching candidate has declined NFL interest and potential offers to continue leading the Fighting Irish.

Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the field before the game against USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium
One of the top coaches in college football has chosen to remain in the college game

Freeman notified two NFL teams that had been in contact with him about their openings that he would remain at Notre Dame.

With the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans as the only teams currently seeking head coaches, it’s reasonable to conclude that Freeman withdrew his name from consideration for both organizations.

Freeman later made his decision public on X, signaling clearly that he has no plans to leave.

“2026…run it back. Go Irish,” Freeman wrote.

 

 

 

 

Notre Dame confirmed that Freeman has reached an agreement on a revised contract.

While financial details were not made public, a source indicated his pay now places him among the highest-paid coaches in college football.

Freeman, who signed a six-year deal last year, also received an added year as part of the restructure, keeping him under contract through the 2031 season.

 

 

 

 

Although NFL teams showed strong interest, sources familiar with the matter say Freeman’s choice was influenced by his confidence in Notre Dame’s leadership, his passion for coaching college athletes, and his goal of contending for a championship in 2026.

Freeman led Notre Dame to last season’s national championship game, having gone 14-2, where the Irish came up short against Ohio State, losing 34-23.

This season, Notre Dame finished 10-2, with both losses to playoff teams Miami and Texas A&M by a combined total of just four points, fueling controversy over their exclusion from the College Football Playoff.

Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 CFP National Championship
Freeman is staying put in South Bend

Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on during the 94th Annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring Game at Notre Dame Stadium
The 39-year-old head coach has turned down any potential NFL interest

It’s clear that Freeman believes he has unfinished business in South Bend and is determined to lead the Irish to their first national championship since 1988.

And there’s good reason to believe that Freeman will accomplish his lofty goal, sooner rather than later.

Even with a few players leaving early for the NFL, Notre Dame is set to return a strong roster next season.

 

 

 

The defense, which was extremely young this year, will have more experience, and 2026 will be the first season under Freeman with a returning starting quarterback in CJ Carr.

The Irish also secured a consensus top-five recruiting class during the December signing period and will enter the new season on a 10-game winning streak.

At 39, Freeman has compiled a 43–12 record as Notre Dame’s head coach. His .782 winning percentage ranks sixth in school history, and among coaches with at least 50 games, he ranks fourth behind Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy, and Ara Parseghian.

 

 

 

Over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, he went 24–4, marking the most wins in any two-year stretch in Notre Dame history.

He aims to carry the momentum into 2026, and despite more NFL openings likely on the horizon, Freeman has no plans to leave.

A victory for the Irish, and a blow to any NFL team that had a desire to hire him.