Report: Marcus Freeman in candidates list for New York Giants head coaching job

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is on the candidates list for the New York Giants coaching vacancy, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Freeman just wrapped up his fourth season at the helm of the Fighting Irish.

Russini reported Freeman is expected to drum up interest in other NFL circles as well. The Giants aren’t the only opening as the Tennessee Titans are currently without a permanent head coach at this time.

Freeman signed a contract extension with the Irish last December, locking him in through 2030. But of course, we all know how frugal those deals are in terms of keeping coaches in place.

Freeman has not been involved in the NFL since he was a player in 2009. He was a linebacker and spent time on the practice squads of the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans. Being a standout defender at Ohio State, Freeman eventually pivoted to coaching.

In four-plus seasons after taking over for Brian Kelly, Freeman is 43-12 at Notre Dame, including leading the team to a No. 2 ranking in 2024 and the College Football Playoff National Championship. The team went 10-2 this year, but missed the CFP and decided to opt out of a bowl game.

Marcus Freeman generating NFL buzz

Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua recently said they’d do whatever it takes to keep Freeman in South Bend. But as Blue and Gold’s Tyler Horka pointed out, it might not be the school’s fault in the end if Freeman decided to leave.

“I would never say we wouldn’t match anything when it comes to Marcus,” Bevacqua said. “Everybody has eyes on Marcus. College has eyes on Marcus. NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the next Leo DiCaprio movies with Martin Scorsese. 

“Marcus is Marcus. All the credit to him, he deserves it. He is the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop. One of the greatest college coaches in the country … “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.”

Freeman was rewarded with that extension last year. If the NFL buzz gets louder, could he be rewarded again very soon?

“It’s one of my main obligations and responsibilities to this university to make sure Marcus wakes up every day knowing that he is supported and valued by Notre Dame,” Bevacqua said. “And I can say with 100% certainty he feels that way. Notre Dame is totally aligned around the importance of college football for Notre Dame. We’re totally aligned on how he is the perfect coach for Notre Dame.”