SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The coaching carousel just stopped spinning, but the rumors haven’t. After a whirlwind cycle where nearly 20 Power Four programs and a third of the NFL changed leaders, one massive domino refused to fall: Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman. Despite serious NFL interest, Freeman stayed put. Now, his star running back, Jeremiyah Love, is explaining exactly why the 43-12 head coach isn’t going anywhere.
The “Lifer” Mindset
Freeman’s name circulated for at least two NFL head coaching vacancies this January. It makes sense—he’s fresh off a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance and has stabilized one of the most pressure-packed jobs in sports. But Love, the 2025 Doak Walker Award winner, told This Is Football that Freeman’s loyalty is built differently.
“I feel like he’s started at Notre Dame, and he’s going to finish there. That’s kind of like how he recruits. He recruits guys that have the same mindset as him or have the same values as him… They want to go somewhere that’s considered hard with academics… It’s how he recruits, it’s how he is as a person, and that’s who he likes to surround himself with.”
— Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame RB (via This Is Football)
By The Numbers: Why The NFL Called
Freeman didn’t just inherit a program; he elevated it. Since taking the reins in 2021 after a defensive coordinator stint, he has turned the Fighting Irish into a consistent juggernaut.
- Overall Record: 43-12
- Key Achievement: 2025 National Championship Appearance
- Defensive Roots: Climbed from Kent State to Cincinnati DC before his South Bend arrival.
Love has been the engine behind that success. A top-five prospect from the class of 2023, he exploded in 2025 to capture the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best back. His career stat line is video-game stuff: 2,882 rushing yards, 63 catches, and 42 total touchdowns. When a player with that production speaks, scouts and fans listen.
The NFL Trap
History suggests Freeman made the smart play. The jump from Saturday glory to Sunday stress has chewed up legends. For every Jim Harbaugh or Pete Carroll—who timed their exits perfectly—there is a long list of college kings who struggled to adapt.
Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, and Urban Meyer all found the NFL waters choppy and returned to campus or the broadcast booth quickly. Freeman, by staying in South Bend, avoids that volatility while keeping a championship window wide open.
What’s Next
With Freeman locked in and Love coming off a historic campaign, the Irish enter the 2026 offseason as immediate title favorites. The question isn’t whether Freeman can leave for the NFL, but why he would ever want to when he’s building a dynasty right where he is.
