Sure, Marcus Freeman did simply assist Notre Dame earn a spot on this season’s Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship by leading the program to a win over Penn State on Thursday.
Nevertheless it took nearly no time after the Combating Irish’s spectacular victory for some to counsel that Freeman might be heading to the NFL.
Final month, Notre Dame and its head coach agreed to a four-year extension. In keeping with ESPN’s Pete Thamel, earlier than Freeman signed, his contract buyout was believed to be worth $4 million.
Along with his new deal, one can assume that the Combating Irish elevated the buyout quantity, making it more durable for different faculties or NFL groups to rent him. Nevertheless, NFL house owners wouldn’t discover it tough to pay Notre Dame no matter Freeman’s new buyout quantity is to rent him.
The Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets want a brand new head coach earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season.
Freeman would possibly take advantage of sense for the Bears of these six organizations.
The Combating Irish head coach has a historical past with Chicago, which selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Sadly, Freeman by no means appeared in a sport for the Bears, and whether or not he needs to be part of that group once more stays to be seen. Nonetheless, the connection is there.
Chicago normal supervisor Ryan Poles revealed earlier this month that the workforce is in search of a brand new head coach who is a great leader and holds players accountable. Freeman definitely suits this description.
“There’s going to be some [head-coaching candidates] that you do not count on which might be going to shock you as a result of we’re digging deeper than we ever have earlier than,” mentioned Poles.
Might Freeman be that shock candidate for Chicago?
Even when he doesn’t develop into the subsequent head coach of the Bears, it doubtless will not be lengthy earlier than he turns into an NFL head coach.
Sadly for Notre Dame, that might occur shortly after they play on this season’s Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship on Jan. 20.
