After letting go of the CFP seedings and forfeiting the Bowl game, South Bend is again trending. But this time, regarding HC Marcus Freeman’s future. For a successful coach like Freeman, winning often brings an unwelcome reward: speculation about the next job. He is the latest high-profile name being pulled into the NFL’s annual coaching carousel.

Why Marcus Freeman’s Name in the HC Search?

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Notre Dame’s HC Marcus Freeman has been a top candidate for the New York Giants’ head coaching role. The report reveals that Freeman’s leadership, people skills, and ability to thrive in one of the most high-profile jobs in the country drew the interest of general managers and owners, despite having no experience in coaching the NFL.

Marcus Freeman is reportedly among the top candidates to lead Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabors into a new chapter post-Brian Daboll. But it is not the first time he has been linked with the pro league.

Marcus Freeman’s Current Situation at Notre Dame

While the NFL rumors are buzzing on the internet, Marcus Freeman remains committed to Notre Dame. He signed a six-year contract extension in December 2024, which runs through 2030. Freeman has a 43-12 record in four seasons at Notre Dame and guided the program to a national championship game appearance in 2024. Last year, when the rumors emerged linking the Chicago Bears, Freeman made his intentions clear.

“I love this place, I love these guys, I love 18- to 22-year-olds,” Freeman said on The Outta Pocket Podcast in 2024. “The impact you can make on young people is so special. I don’t know what it’s like in the NFL, right? I spent one year there, and I don’t know what that life is like. This is the life I’ve been coaching for 15, 16 years now, and it’s a joy.”

Has Marcus Freeman Addressed NFL Rumors?

According to Garret Stepien’s report on SNY, Marcus Freeman addressed the New York Giants’ rumors to Complex earlier this week, stating that he’s not responsible for somebody’s noise. He said that he looks at it as a gratitude for his success and said that they wouldn’t have questioned if he didn’t.

“You don’t have to allow somebody else’s noise to become my noise,” Freeman told Complex this week when asked about being linked to the Giants’ vacancy. “Someone might say something to me, and, ‘Hey, your name’s up for this job.’ OK. That doesn’t have to be my noise. That doesn’t have to be the things I think about. I need to think about value in the moment for the next opportunity we have, but also use it as a sense of gratitude.

“One, I have the utmost respect for the Giants’ organization. You talk about the history of the NFL. What a special organization. But, two, it’s also gratitude for the job you have because you wouldn’t have (asked that question) if we stunk. And it gives me a chance to always reflect on the gratitude that I have for the players and the people in our organization that I’m even being mentioned in that statement.”

What does this mean for Notre Dame football moving forward?

It is fair to wonder if the frustration of a 10-2 season and not being featured in the playoffs could lead to Freeman considering an NFL job. However, his last two statements reveal that he is not so excited about the NFL jobs. Besides that, the Notre Dame coaching role is nothing short of a fancy job. The Fighting Irish have long been considered one of the best jobs in college football. Moreover, he is under an extended contract until 2030, but only time will tell.