Chicago Bears woo Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman: Report
As his team prepares for the college football national championship, head coach Notre Dame Marcus Freeman is reportedly a hot commodity in the NFL job market.
According to NFL Network, at the top of the list of interested parties is the Chicago Bears Tom Pelissero.
“The Bears have done extensive research on Marcus Freeman for months,” Pelissero reports on Sunday, January 12. “He is only 39 years old. It wouldn’t be a shock if at some point he at least considers a move to the NFL.”
Chicago fired the head coach Matt Eberfluss in November 2024 after a 4-8 start to the season. Interim head coach Thomas Brown finished the season with the Bears, who finished the season 5-12. Brown, the team’s former offensive coordinator, will not return as head coach.
“Freeman is in the midst of a magical run with the Fighting Irish to the national championship game,” Pelissero continued. “Obviously, it’s unlikely he’ll entertain NFL overtures for this game.”
Notre Dame will face Ohio State University in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., trying to win the school’s first national title since 1988.
During appearance on ESPN The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Jan. 13, NFL Insider Adam Schefter said, “I heard Marcus Freeman is happy at Notre Dame.”
Just a few weeks ago, ESPN Heather Dinich informed that Freeman signed “a long-term contract extension, believed to be a four-year extension, locking him in for another six years.” Financial details of the contract have not been officially disclosed.
“He did sign that contract recently. I don’t know if it’s leverage or not. I have no idea. Other than that, I have no direct information,” added 58-year-old Schefter.
Freeman confirmed that he has signed a new contract with Notre Dame in December 2024.
Courtesy of Marcus Freeman/Instagram Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has a pretty impressive lineup off the field as well. Freeman, 38, who became Notre Dame’s head coach in December 2021, married his wife Joanna Freeman in 2010. The couple met while Marcus was studying at Ohio State University, where Marcus was (…)
“The investment they continue to make in our program is invaluable to our student-athletes and staff,” Freeman said. “This commitment extends far beyond myself as they strive to ensure that all aspects of our program are competitive in the highest echelon of college football.”
The Bears have already officially interviewed several potential head coaches to fill their vacancy, including former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete CarrollDetroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben JohnsonDetroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins Anthony Weaver.
The team has an interview scheduled with the former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy on Wednesday, December 15.
For now, Freeman remains focused on Notre Dame’s quest for a national title. The College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes will air Monday, January 20th at 7:30pm ET on ESPN.
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