A perfect storm could lead Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman to the NY Jets in 2027 originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman could be a hot name in the NFL hiring cycle next year. The New York Jets could have a head coaching vacancy, with Aaron Glenn being another bad year away from a premature firing.
How realistic is the idea of Freeman in Florham Park, New Jersey, by the time the 2027 season kicks off? League insider Jason La Canfora believes it’s not off the table, since the Jets’ MetLife Stadium co-tenant, the New York Giants, were one of the main teams interested in Freeman.
“With Jets head coach Aaron Glenn among those considered to be on the hottest of seats, it would not be shocking for [Freeman] to be a prime candidate,” Canfora wrote. “The New York Giants were among the teams to do significant work assessing how interested Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman would be in joining their organization over the winter…
“They were hardly alone and were prepared to move on him if he was sufficiently interested, according to league sources, as were other organizations. And there is an expectation in front offices around the NFL that this process will begin anew in November, in an even more robust manner, especially with Freeman yet to send an overt public signal that he isn’t open to giving the NFL a try.”
Glenn’s defensive identity is under the gun this coming season, having taken over the lead play-calling reins. Glenn was a star running the Detroit Lions’ defense, but not having a single interception all season has distanced anyone’s mind from his success in the Motor City.
Meanwhile, Freeman is unfinished business in South Bend after the Fighting Irish were snubbed from the CFP field. Until he finishes that business, there may need to be some pumped brakes on the Freeman-NFL rumors.
“Marcus is not going to leave Notre Dame until he wins a national title.”
Notre Dame’s on-field reporter during NBC broadcasts, Kathryn Tappen, told me that she doesn’t foresee Freeman leaving the Fighting Irish for the NFL until he wins a national championship.
“Marcus is probably getting, I don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors, but I’m sure there are a lot of teams that were interested and probably wanted to make an offer to him. But he believes in Notre Dame. I love that he stands by this program. I think, quite frankly, Marcus is not going to leave Notre Dame until he wins a national title, and he probably will,” Tappen said.
Certainly, things could change. The NFL tends to consider guys already in the league over those with no pro experience. Even national champion head coaches like Urban Meyer and Nick Saban were chewed up and spit out by the NFL.
Still, a championship with CJ Carr leading the charge could be Freeman’s major opportunity to make that jump. We’ll see what happens this fall, and if success could lead to Freeman exploring the great beyond.