Marcus Freeman isn’t heading to the NFL - at least not yet.
The Notre Dame head coach made it official on Monday: he’s staying put in South Bend. Despite reported interest from the Giants and other NFL teams in the market for a new head coach, Freeman is locking in with the Irish - and yes, that decision comes with a well-earned raise.
This move takes one of the more intriguing names off the board for teams like the Giants, who are in the thick of a coaching search after parting ways with Brian Daboll. Freeman, who turns 40 in January, has built a strong resume in a short time. He’s 43-12 at Notre Dame, including a 10-2 mark this season, and has earned a reputation as one of the brightest young leaders in college football.
But here’s the reality: as promising as Freeman looks, the jump from college to the NFL is no guarantee. The league is littered with examples of dominant college coaches who couldn’t quite translate their success to Sundays. Freeman has yet to coach a single down in the NFL, and that lack of pro experience likely gave some teams pause - even if his leadership, recruiting chops, and win-loss record make him an attractive long-term option.
Still, this isn’t the last time we’ll hear Freeman’s name in NFL circles. If he keeps stacking double-digit win seasons at Notre Dame, the league will come calling again. For now, though, the Giants and others will have to look elsewhere.
That brings us to the next big question in New York: where do the Giants go from here?
There’s buzz around a pair of veteran NFL head coaches - John Harbaugh in Baltimore and Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. Both are locked into a high-stakes AFC North title game this Sunday night, with the winner punching a ticket to the playoffs and the loser heading into an uncertain offseason. If either coach becomes available - and in Tomlin’s case, a trade might be more likely than a firing - the Giants could have a shot at landing a proven NFL winner.
Of course, that’s a big “if.” But it shows just how wide the Giants are casting their net. They’ve been down the road of first-time head coaches before, and while Freeman’s college success was tempting, the front office may now lean toward someone with a deeper NFL résumé.
One thing’s clear: Freeman checks a lot of boxes. He’s a winner, a motivator, and a culture-builder - traits the Giants haven’t had in a head coach since Tom Coughlin roamed the sideline. But for now, he’s staying in college football, and the Giants’ search continues.