A part of Freeman’s enchantment is that he has led the Preventing Irish to the CFP Nationwide Championship Recreation, which will probably be performed on Jan. 20. As Pelissero notes, it’s unlikely that Freeman will need to take an NFL interview previous to that recreation, so Chicago — which reportedly pushed laborious for Mike Vrabel earlier than he accepted the Patriots’ head teaching gig Sunday — may sluggish play the method if it actually needs a shot at Freeman.
After all, it’s eminently doable that Freeman doesn’t need to go away South Bend in any respect. He lately agreed to a four-year extension with Notre Dame, a deal that may maintain him in place for one more six seasons. It’s unclear what the buyout construction on his contract with the Preventing Irish appears to be like like, however apparently the Bears are not less than entertaining the concept of shopping for him out.
Freeman, 39, has been Notre Dame’s HC since 2022, and he has led the group to an general report of 33-8. The Bears really chosen him within the fifth spherical of the 2009 draft, although he by no means suited up for a regular-season recreation on the NFL degree.
Per Pelissero, Chicago has carried out intensive analysis on Freeman over the previous a number of months as a part of its wide-ranging search. Courtesy of our head-coaching tracker, here’s what that search appears to be like like as of the time of this writing:
- Invoice Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Expressed interest
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Payments): Interview requested
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interview expected
- Matt Campbell, head coach (Iowa State): Interview expected
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Group needs to interview
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/9
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Interview blocked
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): To interview
- David Shaw, senior personnel govt (Broncos): Interview requested
