Notre Dame football fans are getting their first taste of good news since being passed over for the college football playoff and declining a bid to the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Head coach Marcus Freeman has informed two NFL teams he intends to stay in South Bend after receiving a restructured contract, Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde has reported. Details of the deal have not been revealed by the private school or Freeman, although he signed a contract extension one year ago that reportedly paid him $9 million annually.
Freeman had recently been linked to the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans’ vacancies, although Forde’s report did not specify which teams the 39-year-old had been communicating with.
Apparently confirming the report in a post on X, Freeman wrote: ‘2026… run it back.’
He then added, ‘Go Irish,’ with a shamrock emoji.
Fighting Irish fans were naturally pleased to see Freeman return after going 43-12 over four seasons in South Bend – especially following Lane Kiffin’s highly publicized defection from Ole Miss to Louisiana State as the Rebels were preparing for their first CFP game.
Irish head coach Marcus Freeman has informed two NFL teams he intends to stay in South Bend after receiving a restructured contract, Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde has reported
‘You will end up being the greatest head coach in Notre Dame History,’ one excited fan wrote on X, adding: ‘next Notre Dame legend in the making!’
Another confident Irish fan wrote: ‘My sympathies to every team you demolish next season. Let’s go.’
Giants fans, on the other hand, were less enthusiastic as their team continues to search for a replacement for fired head coach Brian Daboll.
‘YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COACHING THE GIANTS MAN!’ one fan wrote online.
Several critics did make their feelings known by reminding Freeman of Notre Dame’s decision to opt out of the Pop-Tarts bowl after being snubbed by the CFP. Others questioned why Freeman was getting another extension just one year after restructuring his deal.
‘[So] we’re doing this every season now,’ one fan asked on X.
Although Notre Dame is losing star running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price to the NFL Draft, Freeman is welcoming the country’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, according to 247sports.com.
The top recruits include edge rusher Rodney Dunham, tight end Ian Premer, and safety Joey O’Brien.
