Bears’ thorough coaching search could include Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman directly.
The Chicago Bears are reportedly eyeing an interview with Marcus Freeman, the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as they seek to fill their head-coaching vacancy, according to sources from NFL Network. It remains unclear whether Freeman has any interest in the position, especially following Notre Dame’s recent contract extension for their head coach.
At 39 years old, Freeman is currently in his third full season leading the Fighting Irish. His record stands at an impressive 33-9, having taken over the reins during the 2021 season after Brian Kelly departed for the LSU Tigers.
As the Fighting Irish prepare for their upcoming showdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 20, they have already triumphed over formidable opponents like the Penn State Nittany Lions, Georgia Bulldogs, and Indiana Hoosiers in the playoff series.
The Bears are among five NFL teams still in pursuit of a new head coach, with the New England Patriots being the only team to secure a new hire so far, bringing in Mike Vrabel. After finishing the season with a disappointing 5-12 record, Chicago’s search has involved interviews with several candidates, including Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, Aaron Glenn, the Lions’ defensive coordinator, and even former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.
Interestingly, Freeman’s connection to the Bears runs deeper than just coaching. He played linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2004 to 2008 and was drafted by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Following a brief stint in the NFL, Freeman transitioned to coaching, starting as a graduate assistant at Ohio State in 2010. He later served as linebackers coach at Kent State and held various positions at Purdue and Cincinnati before becoming Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2021, ultimately earning his promotion to head coach.
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