Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach is emerging as a top candidate for the New York Giants’ head coaching vacancy. Following a 2-8 start to the season, the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll and elevated offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as interim coach.
NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reported that the Giants are considering Freeman as a serious option. However, a former Notre Dame star advised Freeman not leave South Bend, Indiana, for an NFL opportunity.
Former Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate was made aware that Freeman is a strong candidate for the Giants’ head coach vacancy, to which the Notre Dame alum said:
“If I am Marcus Freeman, I say hell no, and I stay right there. Stay right there in South Bend, Indiana. You have something amazing, Marcus. And if I’m just looking at it from the outside in, Marcus doesn’t have any background in the NFL. He has never, I don’t think he’s ever been an intern or done anything in the NFL. That’s a huge jump, buddy. I think the time will come, but the time is not now to be inserting yourself into the NFL with what you have at Notre Dame, for one.”
Tate further pointed out that Freeman’s hiring will do no good to the Giants since he has no NFL experience. Tate said:
“But also, look, we’ve had a bunch of guys who haven’t been able to figure it out in New York, and now you think the guy who has no experience at all in the NFL, from my understanding, is the option? I think both parties are better off right now.”
To end, Tate begs Freeman not leave Notre Dame just yet as the program needs him dearly.
Former Notre Dame WR Golden Tate on Marcus Freeman being top college candidate for the Giants: “If I’m Marcus Freeman, I say, hell to the no, and I stay right there in South Bend, Indiana…” pic.twitter.com/Fp09MlKaqh
— Matt Freeman (@mattfreeman05_) December 23, 2025
Is Marcus Freeman Leaving Notre Dame?
Marcus Freeman is exploring NFL opportunities and he is being named among the potential coaching candidates for the Giants. Freeman, who took the Fighting Irish in the national championship game last season, was snubbed out of the College Football Playoff in favor of the Miami Hurricanes. They finished the regular season with a 10-2 record.
Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua has publicly said the school wants Freeman to stay.
“Everybody has eyes on Marcus,” Bevacqua said last Tuesday. “College has eyes on Marcus. NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus, right? I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the next Leo DiCaprio movie with Martin Scorsese. Marcus is Marcus. All the credit to him. He deserves it.”
Notre Dame has reportedly signed him to a long-term contract extension through 2030 to keep him in South Bend. While the salary is kept confidential, the athletic director is confident that they’ll be able to match whatever Freeman gets offered by potential NFL or college football programs.
“I would never say we wouldn’t match anything when it comes to Marcus. … I make sure that he knows that he will be where he deserves to be, and that is at the top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation every year,” Bevacqua said. “I view his contract –– although a multi-year contract –– as a living, breathing document that we will revise every year as need be to make sure he’s where he needs to be. He knows he has that commitment from me, and more importantly, from the university.”
There are several reasons for Freeman not leave Notre Dame, including strong job security, a top recruiting class, and unfinished goals like winning a national championship. However, an NFL job is an NFL job and it comes with different experience. Let’s see if Freeman is interested in a Giants job is on offer.
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