Nfl Coordinators, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman Among Names On Giants' List Of Coaching Candidates: Report

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and four NFL assistants -- Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury -- are among the names on the Giants' list of coaching candidates, according to a report Saturday by The Athletic's Diana Russini.

Hafley headlined the early coaches to know when SNY's Connor Hughes reported on what New York was looking for in the wake of fourth-year coach Brian Daboll's Nov. 10 firing, which saw Big Blue retain general manager Joe Schoen.

Freeman, 39, enters his fifth season at the helm for the Fighting Irish. He is 43-12 overall, including a 14-2 season in 2024 that saw Notre Dame reach the College Football Playoff National Championship and a 10-2 campaign this fall.

"When I feel like I can weave it into a message to the players, I do address it," Freeman told Complex this week when asked about being linked to the Giants' vacancy and what he tells his players. "I say, 'You don't want to let somebody else's noise become your noise. You don't have to allow somebody else's noise become my noise.' Someone might say something to me, and, 'Hey, your name's up for this job.' OK. That doesn't have to be my noise. That doesn't have to be the things I think about. I need to think about value in the moment for the next opportunity we have but also use it as a sense of gratitude.

"One, I have the utmost respect for the Giants' organization. You talk about the history of the NFL. What a special organization. But, two, it's also gratitude for the job you have because you wouldn't have (asked that question) if we stunk. I know we're in this position because of the people. It's not the person -- it's because of the people. And it gives me a chance to always reflect to the gratitude that I have for the players and the people in our organization that I'm even being mentioned in that statement."

Russini expects Freeman to generate "interest from other NFL organizations," she wrote.

Last December, Freeman signed a four-year contract extension that keeps him with the Irish through the 2030 season. He has never coached in the NFL throughout his career, which started 25 years ago as a graduate assistant at Ohio State -- Freeman's alma mater.

"And though he has never coached in the NFL, his leadership, people skills and ability to thrive in one of the most high-profile jobs in the country are what’s drawing the interest of general managers and owners," Russini wrote.

Freeman was a star linebacker for the Buckeyes in parts of his career from 2004-08. The Chicago Bears selected him with the No. 154 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He spent time with the Bears, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans in 2009 before transitioning to coaching.

Freeman was the linebackers coach at Kent State (2011-12) and Purdue (2013-15). He added an additional title in 2016 as the Boilermakers' co-defensive coordinator. His next stop was Cincinnati from 2017-20, serving as the Bearcats' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Notre Dame hired him in 2021 as its defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under Brian Kelly, who left after the season to become LSU's coach. The Irish promoted Freeman, who coached the team to a 37-35 loss against Oklahoma State in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl.

Notre Dame went 9-4 in 2022 and finished the season with a 45-38 Gator Bowl win over South Carolina. The Irish finished 10-3 the following year, capped by a 40-8 win over Oregon State in the 2023 Sun Bowl. Freeman's program broke out in 2024, going 11-1 to reach the College Football Playoff.

Seventh-seeded Notre Dame won games against No. 10 Indiana (27-17, first round), No. 2 Georgia (23-10, quarterfinal) and No. 6 Penn State (27-24, semifinal) before a 34-23 loss to No. 8 Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

"Everybody has eyes on Marcus," Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua said this week. "College has eyes on Marcus. NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus, right? I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the next Leo DiCaprio movie with Martin Scorsese. Marcus is Marcus. All the credit to him. He deserves it. He's part of the fabric of this university. So is (Freeman's wife) Joanna, so are his kids. He's everywhere. He's at soccer games, women's and men's basketball games, hockey games, talking to students.

"He's an amazing individual and an amazing leader, and we feel blessed that he's our coach. I make sure that he knows that he will be where he deserves to be, and that is at the top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation -- every year. I view his contract, although a multiyear contract, as a living, breathing document that we will revise every year as need be to make sure he's where he deserves to be."