The Notre Dame Fighting Irish ended their season with a lot of frustration. They were left out of the College Football Playoff, and the school later chose not to play in a bowl game. Even though their season is over, the talk around head coach Marcus Freeman is still going strong.
Most of the major coaching changes in college football are already done. Lane Kiffin took the LSU job, Jon Sumrall is now the head coach at Florida, and Matt Campbell became the new leader at Penn State. But the rumors involving Freeman are different. They are not about him leaving for another college program. They involve the NFL.
Freeman’s Name Back in the NFL Mix
Freeman has been connected to NFL jobs since last year. His name came up when the Chicago Bears were searching for a new head coach before they hired Ben Johnson. Now, Freeman is being mentioned as a possible candidate for the New York Giants’ job. The Giants are expected to begin their search once their Week 18 game ends.
Urban Meyer, a former college head coach who won national championships at Florida and Ohio State but struggled during his short time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, shared his thoughts on Freeman possibly making the jump to the NFL. Meyer said on FOX Sports’ “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” that he believes Freeman should stay in college.
“I would say you stay in college 100%,” Meyer said. “You have more control in college as a head coach. In the NFL, there are so many things you cannot control, like the general manager or the owner. In college, it is mainly you. Plus, you are going to lose more in the NFL. It is built that way. I am not sure Marcus can handle losing because he is a lot like me. You are going to win at Notre Dame.”
Freeman Responds to the Noise
Freeman recently spoke with Complex News about the NFL rumors and how he manages them. He said he often talks to his players about blocking out outside noise. He tries to follow the same advice.
“You do not have to let somebody else’s noise become your noise,” Freeman said. “Someone might tell me my name is up for a job. That does not mean I have to let it affect what I think about. I need to focus on the moment, the team, and the opportunity in front of us. I also look at it with gratitude.”
Freeman added that he has great respect for the Giants organization and knows they would only show interest because of the team’s success.
“It means we are doing something right,” he said. “It is never just one person. It is the people around you.”
Giants Showing Real Interest
According to the New York Post, the Giants hold Freeman in “high regard.” The team is currently led by interim head coach Mike Kafka. With strong offensive talent already in place, the Giants believe the right hire could push them back into playoff contention.
For now, Freeman remains focused on Notre Dame. But the NFL talk is not going away anytime soon.
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