Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman shuts door on NFL interest, announces return to school

Notre Dame Fighting Irish caput shot manager Marcus Freeman unopen the doorway connected NFL opportunities connected Monday, announcing helium volition beryllium backmost with the programme for 2026.

Freeman made the announcement successful a station connected X.

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Notre Dame caput manager Marcus Freeman celebrates with his players aft winning a NCAA shot crippled 36-7 against NC State astatine Notre Dame Stadium connected Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, successful South Bend, Indiana. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

"2026…run it back," Freeman wrote. "Go Irish."

Freeman’s sanction has popped up successful the rumor mill since past play aft the Chicago Bears started their pursuit of a caller caput manager and earlier they yet hired Ben Johnson. Freeman’s sanction was linked to the New York Giants’ job, arsenic they volition embark connected their ain head-coaching pursuit erstwhile the timepiece hits triple zeroes successful their Week 18 game.

The fume astir the rumors grew erstwhile Notre Dame was near retired of the College Football Playoff and opted retired of the vessel game. The NFL play has 1 much week successful its regular play and teams volition commencement to marque head-coaching decisions precise soon.

He antecedently spoke to Complex News about the anticipation of jumping to the NFL.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish caput manager Marcus Freeman leads the squad from the locker country to play the Pittsburgh Panthers astatine Acrisure Stadium connected Nov. 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

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"I often, not each the time, but erstwhile I consciousness similar I tin weave it into a connection to the players I bash code and I say, ‘You don’t fto idiosyncratic else’s sound go your noise.’ You don’t person to let idiosyncratic else’s sound go my noise, right? And idiosyncratic mightiness accidental thing to me, ‘Hey, your name’s up for this job, OK?’ But that doesn’t person to beryllium my noise. That doesn’t person to beryllium the things I deliberation about. I request to deliberation astir worth successful the infinitesimal for the accidental that we person but besides usage it arsenic a consciousness of gratitude.

"One, I person the utmost respect for the Giants organization. You speech astir the past of the NFL, what a peculiar organization. But two, it’s besides gratitude for the occupation you person due to the fact that you wouldn’t person said that if we stunk. So, I cognize we’re successful this presumption due to the fact that of the people. It’s not a person. It’s due to the fact that of the people."

Notre Dame caput manager Marcus Freeman talks during media time up of the College Football Playoff National Championship crippled Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, successful Atlanta.  (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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For now, Freeman volition effort to get backmost into contention for a nationalist championship.

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