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Notre Dame

Shane Gillis, Marcus Freeman star in Under Armour ad featuring Notre Dame players

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz08/30/25NickSchultz_7
Shane Gillis
(© William McLelland-Imagn Images)

Shane Gillis continues to let his gold and blue shine through. The comedian once again joined forces with Under Armour this week, starring in an ad alongside Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame players.

In the ad, Gillis meets Freeman as one of Notre Dame’s “newest donors,” but has a list of requests. He asks to be part of practices – with a whistle – and suggests ideas for plays. He then helps deliver the post-practice message, asks for all-you-can-eat access at team dinners and to sing the Notre Dame Victory March beforehand.

From there, Gillis delivers a pregame speech in his stand-up style. After Freeman says he can’t accommodate any of those, Gillis asks to play one down in a game. The head coach says he’d think about it, but his father Phil says he won’t.

Gillis hasn’t shied away from his Notre Dame fandom and has maintained a presence around the program. During the Fighting Irish’s run to the national championship game last year, he starred in an Under Armour ad praying for a victory in the game. He has also teased a stand-up show to help with the school’s NIL efforts.

Shane Gillis’ ad also highlights Notre Dame’s newly updated Leprechaun logo. The school is releasing sport-specific logos starting with one for football released last week. Designed in-house, it marks the first update to the Leprechaun mark since 1964.

“The Fighting Irish Leprechaun logo first appeared on the cover of the November 20, 1964, edition of Time, featuring first-year Notre Dame head football coach Ara Parseghian,” the Notre Dame press release read. “The image developed for the cover eventually was designed into the logo that Irish athletic fans across the nation are accustomed to seeing on clothing, memorabilia and more. 

“The Notre Dame Leprechaun is a secondary spirit mark of Notre Dame athletics. Its long-standing history represents the tenacious spirit of the Fighting Irish and their determination. The Leprechaun is recognized around the world today as the mascot of Notre Dame athletics dating back to its design in the early 1960s.”

Notre Dame is currently making its final preparations for a high-profile season opener this week. The Fighting Irish are heading to Hard Rock Stadium to take on Miami with a new quarterback under center. CJ Carr will get the start after beating out Kenny Minchey last week in a competition that began in the spring – and Freeman said he had to go with his “gut” to decide.