NFL insider names Marcus Freeman as candidate for Chicago Bears head coach

Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman could emerge as a candidate for the Chicago Bears’ head coaching vacancy, according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports.

Schrager, speaking on Sunday’s “FOX NFL Kickoff,” added that the Bears are looking for a “leader of men” type to lead their franchise into the future. The Chicago job is open after Matt Eberflus was fired on Friday following the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions.

Here's @pschrags on a wild 24 hours in Hallas Hall and a name no one else is talking about as a potential future head coach. pic.twitter.com/FK20I0i4z8

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 1, 2024

“Another name that you haven’t heard anywhere else that I would keep your eye on — Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman,” Schrager said. “Kevin Warren, former Big Ten commissioner, is now running the Bears as the president. Familiar with the college game. They’re looking for a ‘leader of men’ type coach. Freeman a name to watch early on in that process.”

Marcus Freeman addresses reports linking him to NFL coaching openings

Freeman, 38, has never coached in the NFL, spending the entirety of his 14-year coaching career in college football. Notre Dame named Freeman, the school’s defensive coordinator at the time, head coach in December 2021 after Brian Kelly bolted to LSU, and the Fighting Irish wrapped up the 2024 regular season 11-1 with a College Football Playoff berth soon to follow. Freeman is 30-9 overall in three seasons in South Bend with victories in the Gator and Sun Bowl.

Freeman addressed the reports linking him to the NFL during a press conference last month.

“As for me, I never even — I try not to waste time thinking about an uncertain future,” Freeman said. “I tell our players all the time, your future is uncertain. So, I try not to waste time thinking about things that aren’t in the moment. And so, I haven’t spent any time really thinking about what the future will provide.

“Do I ever want to coach in the NFL? I have no clue. I don’t even know what that entails really right now because I’ve never done it. But I’m just focused on staying here in the present and getting this team ready to have a great Thursday practice and hopefully putting in the work to achieve the outcome that we want on Saturday.”