Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman has done one of the best jobs in college football this season, leading the Fighting Irish to the national championship game in his third season at the helm.
With such success, comes interest from a multitude of other teams.
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Among them are the Chicago Bears, who reportedly made a push to interview the 39-year-old defensive-minded coach. The Bears are looking to replace Matt Eberflus, who they fired in midseason.
Freeman, who played linebacker for Ohio State, was drafted by Chicago in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft, although he was waived before the season started. He never appeared in a regular season game before retiring due to a heart condition.
Freeman was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach after Brian Kelly left for the LSU job before the 2022 Fiesta Bowl, which Notre Dame lost 37-35 to Oklahoma State. He has compiled a 33-9 record in three seasons, including a 14-1 showing in 2024-25.
Here’s everything to know about Freeman’s rumors to the Chicago Bears:
Is Marcus Freeman a Chicago Bears coaching candidate?
The Bears have reportedly done their research on Freeman, who has become a hot name amid the NFL’s coaching carousel this offseason.
“The Bears have done extensive research for months on Marcus Freeman,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday. “He is only 39 years old, it would not be a shock if at some point he at least considers going to the NFL.”
The Bears are likely to wait to make a hire until after the national championship game on Jan. 20, holding out hope that Freeman would interview for the position. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that might be unlikely.
“I have heard that Marcus Freeman is happy at Notre Dame,” Schefter said on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Monday. “He did sign that deal recently. I don’t know whether that’s leverage or not, I have no idea. I don’t have direct information beyond that.”
Marcus Freeman contract
Freeman signed a multi-year contract extension with Notre Dame just before the College Football Playoff, where the Fighting Irish won three games to reach the national championship game against Ohio State.
“The investment they continue to pour into our program is invaluable to our student-athletes and staff,” Freeman said in the Notre Dame announcement. “This commitment goes well beyond myself, as they are dedicated to ensuring all aspects of our program are competitive within the upper echelon of college football.”
ESPN first reported the contract, which lasts through 2030 and is expected to make him among the highest-paid coaches without a national championship win in college football. The total compensation for Freeman is undisclosed, as Notre Dame is a private school.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Is Marcus Freeman a Chicago Bears candidate? Notre Dame coach rumors
