How would Notre Dame adjust with the Chicago Bears eyeing Marcus Freeman for their head coach vacancy?

At just 39 years old, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will coach in his first National Championship game in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. On the other side, it will be the Ohio State Buckeyes and Ryan Day, loaded with several future first-round NFL picks and one of the top rosters in college football. With the matchup set for Monday, January 20th, there appears to be significant interest in Freeman from teams in the NFL dealing with head coach vacancies that could eye that standout Fighting Irish coach.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Chicago Bears are seeking an interview with Notre Dame’s Freeman as a candidate to fill their head coach vacancy. Freeman took over for now LSU head coach Brian Kelly in 2022 during the Fiesta Bowl and holds a 33-9 record with the Irish across three seasons. Freeman will have a chance to lead the Fighting Irish to their first national championship since 1988 when Notre Dame beat West Virginia 34-21.

While Notre Dame remains one of the top jobs in all of college football, a move to the NFL would likely net Freeman a bigger payday and allow for him to help develop 2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams with the Bears. If this move were to happen, it would be back-to-back offseasons with an elite coaching role being up for grabs (Alabama in last offseason).

One of the top candidates who would be considered for the role is Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, Al Golden. Golden has the Irish with the second-best scoring defense in the country this year. Golden spent 10 seasons as a head coach prior to coming to Notre Dame, as he spent five years with Temple and five years with Miami. He also earned 2009 MAC Coach of the Year honors.

Outside of Golden, plenty of other head coaches around college football could find themselves involved in the search such as SMU’s Rhett Lashlee who led the Mustangs to the CFP in their first season with the ACC.