Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua acknowledged potential NFL interest in coach Marcus Freeman but vowed to retain him by making Freeman one of college football\'s highest-paid coaches. Bevacqua said Freeman\'s contract will be revised annually to ensure top-tier compensation as industry sources expect Freeman to draw attention from NFL teams.
Freeman, 39, has compiled a 43-12 record as Notre Dame\'s head coach and led the team to the national title game last season. The Irish finished 10-2 this season but were excluded from the College Football Playoff and declined a bowl invitation.
Industry sources expect Freeman to be on the radar for the New York Giants and other potential NFL openings. Freeman has never coached in the NFL but has emerged as one of college football\'s most successful young coaches.
Freeman agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 season last December. He earned more than $7.4 million in 2023, according to federal tax documents, though Notre Dame does not publicly release salary information.
\"Everybody has eyes on Marcus,\" Bevacqua said. \"College has eyes on Marcus; NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus. He\'s the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop, one of the greatest college coaches in the country.\"
Bevacqua, who took over as athletic director in March 2024, said ensuring Freeman feels valued is a primary obligation. He confirmed Freeman currently feels that way and that Notre Dame is fully aligned on the importance of college football.
\"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.
Bevacqua expects the CFP snub to provide added motivation for Freeman in 2026. The athletic director said Freeman has a long memory and will use the exclusion as fuel moving forward.
