Sure, Marcus Freeman did simply assist Notre Dame earn a spot on this season’s School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship by leading the program to a win over Penn State on Thursday.
But it surely took virtually no time after the Combating Irish’s spectacular victory for some to recommend that Freeman may very well be heading to the NFL.
Final month, Notre Dame and its head coach agreed to a four-year extension. In keeping with ESPN’s Pete Thamel, earlier than Freeman signed, his contract buyout was believed to be worth $4 million.
Together with his new deal, one can assume that the Combating Irish elevated the buyout quantity, making it more durable for different faculties or NFL groups to rent him. Nevertheless, NFL homeowners wouldn’t discover it troublesome to pay Notre Dame no matter Freeman’s new buyout quantity is to rent him.
The Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets want a brand new head coach earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season.
Freeman would possibly take advantage of sense for the Bears of these six organizations.
The Combating Irish head coach has a historical past with Chicago, which selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Sadly, Freeman by no means appeared in a sport for the Bears, and whether or not he desires to be part of that group once more stays to be seen. However, the connection is there.
Chicago common supervisor Ryan Poles revealed earlier this month that the workforce is searching for a brand new head coach who is a great leader and holds players accountable. Freeman actually matches this description.
“There’s going to be some [head-coaching candidates] that you do not count on which can be going to shock you as a result of we’re digging deeper than we ever have earlier than,” mentioned Poles.
May Freeman be that shock candidate for Chicago?
Even when he doesn’t grow to be the subsequent head coach of the Bears, it probably will not be lengthy earlier than he turns into an NFL head coach.
Sadly for Notre Dame, that would occur shortly after they play on this season’s School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship on Jan. 20.
