Prominent NFL insider names Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman as an offseason head coaching candidate elsewhere
With the NFL season more than halfway over, people are already projecting forward to the offseason and head coaching jobs that could be available. The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints already have an opening, and organizations like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys very well could in the future. With that, candidates are […]
With the NFL season more than halfway over, people are already projecting forward to the offseason and head coaching jobs that could be available. The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints already have an opening, and organizations like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys very well could in the future. With that, candidates are already being identified.
On Wednesday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero released a list of 22 young coaches to watch for this next hiring cycle. That group included Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, who Pelissero had some high remarks on.
Here is what Pelissero had to say about Coach Freeman, and the potential interest in him from the NFL level.
Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman, 38: A fifth-round draft pick of the Bears in 2009, Freeman never appeared in a regular-season game. But Freeman's story in pro football may not be written just yet. NFL teams have inquired about Freeman in recent years amidst his meteoric rise in coaching, from his first GA job at his alma mater (Ohio State) in 2010 to becoming the head coach of one of college football's most iconic programs (Notre Dame) 11 years later. Since taking over in the aftermath of Brian Kelly's midnight exit for LSU, Freeman has led the Fighting Irish to a 28-9 record and current No. 6 national ranking. He's an engaging presence who will win the interview — if and when he's willing to take one.
It’s understandable why the NFL would have interest in a coach like Marcus Freeman. He is an engaging personality, an energetic and impressive young football mind, and is incredibly driven. Coach Freeman is a tremendous symbol for a program, and could be either on the college or NFL level.
This projection does seem a bit early to be honest. While Coach Freeman has done some great things for the Fighting Irish, but his resume is still such a small sample size. It’s still unclear just how good of a college coach he is, and there is limited evidence for how it could translate to the NFL.
There also just isn’t much proof that Coach Freeman has the NFL as an end goal for himself. He’s spent the entirety of his coaching career on the college level, and he appears to genuinely enjoy the recruiting world. For now, there doesn’t appear to be much to worry about for Irish fans.
