Notre Dame football: Examining the rise of Marcus Freeman

By Brad Weiss | Feb 1, 2021

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 03: Defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman of the Cincinnati Bearcats looks on from the sideline during a game against the South Florida Bulls at Nippert Stadium on October 3, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati won 28-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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Notre Dame football defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

When the Notre Dame football program hired Marcus Freeman, the Irish got one of the best young coordinators in college football. Coveted by many different programs this offseason, and last, Freeman was able to be lured to South Bend by Brian Kelly, and his impact is going to be felt up and down the program.

Here is a look at the meteoric rise of Marcus Freeman.

A star in high school and at Ohio State

One of the best high school players in the state of Ohio, it was no big shock that Freeman decided to play his college ball at Ohio State University. A member of the Buckeyes program from 2005-08, Freeman was twice named All-Big Ten, as the Hubert Height product would go on to be a fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears.

At the NFL level, Freeman did not have a ton of success, as he was a member of the Bears, Houston Texans, and Buffalo Bills practice squads. However, after the 2009 NFL season, Freeman returned to the college ranks as a graduate assistant at his Alma Mater, starting a coaching career that has seen him become one of the more coveted assistants in the country.

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