Notre Dame's head coach, Marcus Freeman, has garnered significant attention due to his impressive leadership, guiding the Fighting Irish to the cusp of their first national championship since 1988. This success has not gone unnoticed by NFL teams, particularly the Chicago Bears.
Following their mid-season parting with Matt Eberflus, the Bears have expressed interest in interviewing Freeman for their head coaching vacancy, as reported by the NFL Network. While the Bears are still in the interview process and haven't made a final decision, Freeman is reportedly a strong contender. This interest comes as no surprise given Freeman's youth (39 years old) and the remarkable turnaround he's engineered at Notre Dame.
However, Freeman's immediate focus remains on the upcoming national championship game against Ohio State. As NFL insider Tom Pelissero noted, it's unlikely Freeman would entertain NFL offers before such a crucial game. Nevertheless, the Bears have reportedly been conducting extensive research on Freeman for months, recognizing his potential as a future NFL head coach.
Other candidates the Bears are reportedly considering include Brian Floires (Minnesota Vikings), Kliff Kingsbury (Washington Commanders), Todd Monken (Baltimore Ravens), and Arthur Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers).
Freeman took the helm at Notre Dame after Brian Kelly's departure for LSU. His record at Notre Dame stands at an impressive 33-9, including a remarkable 14-1 run this season, building upon previous successes of 9-4 in 2022 and 10-3 in 2023.
Meanwhile, the Bears finished the 2024 season with a 5-12 record, with Caleb Williams at quarterback in his first season with the team.
