Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman announced Monday that he will remain with the university for the 2026 season, ending weeks of speculation regarding his potential move to the NFL.

Freeman confirmed the decision in a post on his official X account, stating, "2026… run it back. Go Irish." The announcement followed reports that multiple NFL franchises, including the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans, had expressed interest in the 39-year-old coach for their head-coaching vacancies.

University sources confirmed to ESPN that Freeman has agreed to a restructured contract that elevates his compensation to the "top tier" of college football coaches. 

The New York Giants and Tennessee Titans were both identified as teams that had done extensive research on Freeman. The Giants recently replaced Brian Daboll with interim Mike Kafka, while the Titans moved on from Brian Callahan in favor of interim Mike McCoy. Reports indicated that NFL executives viewed Freeman as a "culture builder" capable of developing young rosters.

Before making his public announcement, Freeman reportedly informed the NFL franchises with whom he had been in communication that he intended to stay at the collegiate level. Sources indicated his decision was driven by a desire to pursue a national championship and a preference for the leadership alignment currently in place at Notre Dame.

Since being promoted to head coach in 2021, Freeman has compiled a 43-12 record. Under his leadership, the Fighting Irish reached the National Championship game in 2024. In the 2025 season, Notre Dame finished 10-2 but was excluded from the College Football Playoff, subsequently opting out of postseason bowl play.

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua had publicly signaled the university’s intent to retain Freeman earlier this month, describing him as the "best coach in the country for Notre Dame" and committing to keeping his salary competitive with the highest-paid coaches in the sport.