Marcus Freeman’s name is starting to pop up in NFL circles - and not just in passing. The Notre Dame head coach is reportedly drawing interest from the New York Giants as a potential candidate to take over their struggling franchise.
On paper, it’s an intriguing possibility: a young, energetic coach with a reputation for leadership and culture-building. But when you dig a little deeper, the fit between Freeman and the Giants starts to look a bit more complicated.
Let’s start with the obvious: Freeman has done impressive work in South Bend. In just over four seasons at the helm, he’s compiled a 53-12 record - a .782 winning percentage that speaks for itself.
Notre Dame has remained nationally relevant under his watch, and Freeman has earned praise for both his recruiting prowess and his ability to connect with players. He’s a culture guy, no doubt.
But coaching in the NFL is a different animal.
That’s where the concerns start to surface. Freeman, still just 39 years old, is relatively new to the head coaching game and has zero NFL coaching experience. That’s not necessarily a deal-breaker - everyone has to start somewhere - but making the leap from college to the pros, especially to a franchise like the Giants, is no small task.
Joe DeLeone, a college football and NFL Draft analyst, raised some important questions about the potential pairing. His take? This might not be the right time - or the right team - for Freeman to make the jump.
“He’s very green as a head coach,” DeLeone said. “He’s gotten better as an on-field coach and motivator, but this is still someone who’s learning the ropes. To throw him into a situation like the Giants, where the foundation is shaky and the pressure is sky-high, could be setting him up to fail.”
And let’s be honest - the Giants have had a hard time finding their footing for a while now. It’s been a revolving door at head coach, and the issues run deeper than just X’s and O’s.
There’s been instability behind the scenes, and that’s not the kind of environment where a first-time NFL coach can thrive. If anything, it’s the kind of situation that demands a steady, experienced hand.
Freeman’s strength at Notre Dame has been building relationships and energizing a program through recruiting and player development. That’s a huge part of the college game - but it doesn’t necessarily translate to the NFL, where managing egos, navigating contracts, and earning the respect of veterans are all part of the job.
“This is a guy who’s built his reputation on connecting with 18-to-22-year-olds,” DeLeone noted. “That’s not the same as walking into an NFL locker room filled with grown men who’ve been in the league for years. It’s a different dynamic.”
To be clear, none of this is a knock on Freeman’s potential. He’s clearly a rising star in the coaching world.
But making the leap to the NFL - and doing it with a franchise like the Giants, who are in the middle of yet another rebuild - requires more than just upside. It requires timing, support, and the right infrastructure.
And right now, it’s fair to wonder whether the Giants can offer any of that.
For Freeman, the NFL may very well be in his future. But if he’s going to make that move, it needs to be the right situation - one where he can grow without being overwhelmed by dysfunction. The Giants, as they stand today, might not be that place.
So while the idea of Marcus Freeman in the NFL is exciting, and the Giants’ interest is understandable, this might be a case where both sides are better off waiting. The potential is there - but so is the risk.