SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua is aware of possible NFL interest in coach Marcus Freeman, but he will push to retain Freeman and make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.
Freeman is 43-12 as Notre Dame's coach and led the team to the national title game last season. Notre Dame completed its season with a 10-2 record and opted out of a bowl invitation after being snubbed for the College Football Playoff. Although Freeman, 39, has never coached in the NFL, industry sources expect him to be on the radar of the New York Giants and other potential openings.
“Everyone has their eyes on Marcus,” Bevacqua said. “The university has its eyes on Marcus; the NFL has its eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has its eyes on Marcus… He's absolutely the best coach in the country for Notre Dame, period, one of the best college coaches in the country.”
Last December, Freeman agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 season. Notre Dame does not release salary information, but Freeman earned more than $7.4 million in 2023, federal tax documents show.
Bevacqua, who did not hire Freeman and replaced Jack Swarbrick as athletic director in March 2024, said one of his main duties is to ensure Freeman feels valued at Notre Dame.
“I can say with 100% certainty that he feels that way, and Notre Dame is fully aligned with the importance of college football to Notre Dame,” Bevacqua said. “…I make sure he knows he's going to be where he deserves to be, and that's at the highest, highest, highest level of college football coaches as far as compensation goes every year.”
Bevacqua added that Freeman's contract will be reviewed annually to ensure his position among the highest-paid coaches in the sport. He also hopes the CFP snub will provide additional incentive for Freeman in 2026.
“He won't forget it,” Bevacqua said. “He has a long memory. This will be a motivation for him, that's for sure.”
