Marcus Freeman Turns Down NFL, Commits to Notre Dame Through 2026

South Bend, IN — In a move that silenced weeks of speculation, Marcus Freeman strode into the Irish Athletic Center on Tuesday morning and announced he will remain Notre Dame’s head coach through at least the 2026 season, rebuffing overtures from at least two NFL franchises.

The Call That Never Came

Freeman, 38, admitted he listened. Who wouldn’t? League sources confirmed the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers requested formal interviews after Brian Kelly’s abrupt departure from the NFC South opened a ripple effect across coaching circles. Freeman met with athletic director Jack Swarbrick on Sunday night, then phoned both general managers to decline.

I grew up on the west side of Cincinnati dreaming of two colors: Bengal orange and Notre Dame gold. One of those still feels like home. — Marcus Freeman

Inside the Negotiations

While contract terms were not released, two people with direct knowledge of the talks told the Tribune that Freeman’s reworked deal vaults him into the top-five highest-paid coaches in college football, approaching $9 million annually with escalators that could push the figure past $10 million if the Irish reach the expanded 12-team playoff in 2025.

• Buyout increased to $60 million, deterring future NFL poachers
• Additional $12 million for assistant-coach salary pool
• Autonomy over name-image-likeness collective, a sticking point in earlier talks

Players React in Real Time

Quarterback CJ Carr broke the news to teammates via the team’s group chat at 7:03 a.m.; within minutes, the locker-room group text ballooned to 312 messages. Offensive lineman Charles Jagusah posted a celebratory GIF of Freeman sprinting onto the field against Ohio State; it garnered 1.4 million views in four hours.

What This Means for Recruiting

Notre Dame’s 2025 class currently ranks No. 3 nationally, anchored by five-star receiver Cam Williams. Industry analysts believe Freeman’s decision stabilizes a volatile cycle and keeps the Irish in contention for No. 1 overall prospect David Sanders Jr., who is scheduled to visit South Bend on June 14.

NFL Doors Not Closed Forever

Sources close to Freeman caution that the coach inserted a “gentleman’s clause” allowing him to revisit NFL interest post-2026, provided he delivers a national championship to Notre Dame. Freeman sidestepped that detail Tuesday, choosing instead to focus on the immediate future.

We’re not in the business of keeping pace; we’re in the business of setting it. — Marcus Freeman

Looking Ahead

The Irish open 2025 against Texas A&M in Dublin, Ireland, part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Ticket requests surpassed 42,000 within 24 hours of Freeman’s announcement, underscoring the economic ripple of his decision. Bookmakers immediately shortened Notre Dame’s national-title odds from 14-1 to 9-1.