BREAKING: Marcus Freeman Running It Back at Notre Dame
You can finally exhale, South Bend. Put down the message board theories, close the flight tracker apps, and stop refreshing X every thirty seconds. The panic is over.
After a month that felt roughly three decades long for the average fan, Marcus Freeman has officially shut down the noise. He isn’t going to the NFL. He isn’t taking a “promotion” to the pros. He’s staying right here at Notre Dame.
On Monday morning, Freeman dropped a simple, five-word bomb on social media that probably caused a collective cheer loud enough to be heard from Chicago to Indianapolis: “2026… run it back.”
And just like that, the most stressful December in recent memory transformed into a victory lap.
The NFL Came Knocking (and Got Left on Read)
Let’s be honest with ourselves—the fear was real. When the NFL starts sniffing around your head coach, it usually doesn’t end well for the college program. We’ve seen it happen a thousand times. The allure of the Sunday lights, the lack of recruiting headaches, the massive paychecks—it’s usually enough to lure even the most loyal coaches away.
And make no mistake, the NFL wanted Marcus Freeman. Why wouldn’t they? Since taking the reins in 2021, the man has been nothing short of a revelation. He’s compiled a 43-12 record, kept the Notre Dame Fighting Irish ranked in every single season he’s been at the helm, and took the team all the way to the National Championship game last season.
Sure, that loss to Ohio State still stings (we don’t need to talk about it right now), but simply getting there proved that Notre Dame wasn’t just living on history anymore. We are living in the now.
For a few weeks there, it looked shaky. Reports were flying left and right. But Freeman’s decision to stay sends a massive message to the rest of the college football landscape: Notre Dame isn’t a stepping stone. It’s the destination.
Bevacqua’s “Leo DiCaprio” of College Football
If you want to know how much the university values Freeman, just listen to Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua. He wasn’t exactly playing it cool regarding his head coach earlier this month.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the next, you know, Leo DiCaprio movie with Martin Scorsese,” Bevacqua joked (but was he joking?). “Marcus is Marcus. All the credit to him. He deserves it.”
It’s rare to see an AD gush about a coach like that publicly, but Bevacqua knows exactly what he has. He called Freeman the “absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop.” And he’s backing that sentiment up with more than just nice quotes.
Reports indicate that Freeman is heading into the 2026 season with a restructured contract with Notre Dame that will likely place him in the “top, top, top tier” of coaching compensation. Bevacqua made it clear: this is a living, breathing commitment. They aren’t just paying him to coach; they are paying him to be the face of the university.
Why This Moves the Needle for Notre Dame
This isn’t just about keeping a guy who wins games. It’s about stability in an era of college football that feels completely unhinged.
With the transfer portal turning rosters into revolving doors and NIL deals making free agency look tame, having a rock-solid leader is everything. Freeman isn’t just a tactician; he’s a recruiter who connects with players on a level that feels genuine. He’s young (people forget he’s only 39), he’s hungry, and he clearly loves the grind of the college game.
Furthermore, the timing couldn’t be better. The program is set to open a new state-of-the-art football facility this summer at Notre Dame. We’re seeing an increased willingness from the university to work with the program on undergraduate transfers—bringing in talents like Riley Leonard and Elijah Hughes. Everything is trending upward.
If Freeman had left, all that momentum hits a brick wall. You’re starting over. You’re hoping the next guy can keep the recruits. You’re praying the culture doesn’t dissolve.
Instead, we get continuity. We get a coach who looked at the NFL—the pinnacle of the sport for many—and said, “No thanks, I’ve got unfinished business here.”
2026: The Year of Running It Back
So, what does this mean for 2026? It means expectations are going to be through the roof, just the way we like them.
Freeman’s “run it back” post wasn’t just a contract announcement; it was a battle cry. After the heartbreak of the previous National Championship loss and the frustration of the 2025 playoff snub, this team has a chip on its shoulder the size of the Golden Dome.
The pieces are there. The facility is opening. The recruiting classes have been stellar. And now, the captain of the ship has lashed himself to the wheel for the long haul.
For the NFL teams that missed out? Tough luck. Go find someone else. For the Notre Dame faithful? Go ahead and buy that jersey. Freeman isn’t going anywhere
