NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish were snubbed from the College Football Playoff and subsequently forfeited a bowl game, which may have ended their regular season in the sport, but the rumors surrounding head coach Marcus Freeman are as hot as ever.
Yes, the college football coaching carousel has completed its final round. Lane Kiffin went to LSU, Jon Sumrall took the job at Florida and Matt Campbell is the new sheriff at Penn State. But the rumors surrounding Freeman don’t involve another school, but rather the NFL.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman sings the Alma Mater after defeating the Boise State Broncos at Notre Dame Stadium on October 4, 2025. (Michael Caterina/Imagn Images)
Freeman’s name has been popping up in the rumor mill since last season, after the Chicago Bears began looking for a new head coach and before ultimately hiring Ben Johnson. Now, Freeman’s name has been linked to the job of the New York Giants, as they will embark on their own head coaching quest once the clock hits three zeros in their Week 18 matchup.
Urban Meyer had some thoughts on the possibility of Freeman joining the NFL. Meyer coached Florida and Ohio State to national championships, but completely flamed out during his lone season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I would say, ‘You stay in college 100 percent.’ You have controllables in college as a head coach. In the NFL, there are so many uncontrollables that you don’t have, whether it’s the general manager, the owner… In college, it’s you,” he said on FOX Sports’ “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.”
“Plus, you’re going to lose in the NFL. It’s built – and I’m not sure Marcus that I know – he can’t stand to lose like I can’t stand to lose. You’re going to win at Notre Dame.”
Former Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer and former Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier speak before the press conference at the Heavener Football Training Center at the University of Florida on December 1, 2025. (Matt Pendleton/Imagn Images)
BILL BELICHICK RELEASES STATEMENT INSISTING HE WILL NOT PURSUE NFL COACHING JOBS
Freeman spoke to Complex News about the possibility of joining the NFL.
“I do it a lot, not all the time, but when I feel like I can incorporate it into a message to the players, I go to them and say, ‘You don’t let someone else’s noise become yours.’ You don’t have to let someone else’s noise become my noise, do you? And someone might say something to me: “Hey, your name is being considered for this position, okay?” But it’s not necessarily my noise. That’s not necessarily what I’m thinking of. I have to think about the current value of the opportunity we have been given, but also use it as a sense of gratitude.
“First of all, I have the utmost respect for the Giants organization. You talk about the history of the NFL, what a special organization. But secondly, it’s also gratitude for the work that you do because you wouldn’t have said that if we sucked. So, I know we’re in this position because of the people. It’s not one person. It’s because of the people.”
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman reacts after an Irish touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on November 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Freeman is someone the Giants hold in “high regard,” the New York Post reported.
The Giants have Mike Kafka as interim head coach, but with the immense offensive talent, a solid hire could return the team to playoff contention.
