Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman: 'Zero Thought' of NFL amid Bears Rumors Before OSU Game
January 18, 2025
Marcus Freeman's success at Notre Dame has put him on the radar for NFL teams looking for a new head coach, but he's not interested in talking about anything but the task at hand for his current club.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Freeman said he has given "zero thought" to the NFL and all of his attention has been on helping the Fighting Irish prepare for the College Football Playoff Championship Game against Ohio State.
Freeman has been connected to the Chicago Bears since before the NFL regular season came to an end. Peter Schrager of Fox Sports floated him as a potential candidate back on Dec. 1.
FOX Sports: NFL @NFLonFOXAccording to <a href="https://twitter.com/PSchrags?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PSchrags</a>, the Bears fired Matt Eberflus Friday just minutes after his morning media session.<br><br>Also, Schrager has the latest on Jets veterans Aaron Rodgers and Tyron Smith.<br><br>Plus, snow warning in Buffalo tonight ❄️❄️ How will the conditions look for 49ers-Bills? <a href="https://t.co/i1HN5ARiDt">pic.twitter.com/i1HN5ARiDt</a>
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Jan. 12 that the Bears want to interview Freeman, but it would be "unlikely" he would entertain any offers before the CFP title game.
The Bears have completed 14 interviews and have two more scheduled for Saturday. One of their interviews was with Mike Vrabel, who wound up being hired as head coach of the New England Patriots.
Freeman, a former linebacker, was actually drafted by the Bears in the fifth round in 2009. He was waived prior to the start of the regular season, then had brief stints with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before retiring in May 2010.
After his playing career ended, Freeman moved into coaching as a graduate assistant at Ohio State. He was hired as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame on Brian Kelly's staff in January 2021.
When Kelly surprisingly left the Fighting Irish to go to LSU, Freeman was promoted to head coach in December 2021. He has led the program to a 33-9 record since taking over.
Notre Dame rewarded Freeman with a new deal in December that is believed to keep him under contract for six seasons and made him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, per ESPN's Heather Dinich.
The extent of Freeman's interest in an NFL job will likely be made clear after the College Football Playoff Championship Game.
For now, though, Freeman will lead Notre Dame against Ohio State on Monday night looking for the program's first national title since 1988.
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