“Saw the Giants were keeping Joe Schoen and said no”: Fans react as Marcus Freeman ditches NFL to commit to Notre Dame for 2026 CFB season

Marcus Freeman is set to return to Notre Dame for the 2026 college football season. The coach is considered a potential candidate for a host of NFL coaching vacancies after what has been a successful tenure with the Fighting Irish. However, Freeman will continue in South Bend.

Freeman announced his return on social media on Monday, igniting a lot of excitement among fans and college football enthusiasts. According to ESPN, he's received an enhanced contract in South Bend. The coach posted a fired-up message on X, raising the momentum in the program.

“2026…run it back. Go Irish,” Freeman wrote.

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Marcus Freeman was promoted to the Fighting Irish head coaching position from his defensive coordinator role in December 2021 following the departure of Brian Kelly. He currently boasts a 42-13 record with a national championship game appearance in his four seasons in charge of the program.

Freeman was widely viewed as a top candidate for the New York Giants' vacant head coaching role and potentially several others in the league. However, a new deal, which will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, will keep him at Notre Dame.

The decision by Marcus Freeman to stay at Notre Dame has generated a lot of reactions from NFL fans. It's the second offseason the coach has been linked to a move to the NFL, and he's decided against the transition both times. Here's a look at some of the reactions online:

Notre Dame was committed to keeping Marcus Freeman

Notre Dame put a lot of effort into keeping Marcus Freeman in South Bend. Earlier this month, athletic director Pete Bevacqua noted Freeman is the best coach in the country for the university and vowed to do everything in his power to lock him down to a long-term deal.

“One of my main obligations and responsibilities to this university is to make sure Marcus wakes up every day knowing that he is supported and valued by Notre Dame," Bevacqua said Dec. 9. “And I can say with 100% certainty he feels that way, and Notre Dame is totally aligned around the importance of college football for Notre Dame. We're totally aligned on how he is the perfect coach for Notre Dame.”

Marcus Freeman now faces the challenge of keeping Notre Dame at the pinnacle of college football following the program’s controversial exclusion from the playoff. While he will be losing top names like Jeremiyah Love, the coach has notable names like CJ Carr returning in 2026.

Edited by Farouk Yusuf