The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are here to stay. Not only are they a national brand that does a ton of winning all over the football gridiron, but they have the perfect head coach for them in Marcus Freeman. He is a defensive-minded guy from the midwest who empowers his players and coaches around him to make a difference. It is why Notre Dame fans rarely think about Brian Kelly any more...
Last week, it was revealed what exactly Notre Dame paid Freeman during the Irish's run all the way to the national championship game two years ago. Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone wrote about Notre Dame releasing a document for the 2024-25 academic year that described Freeman's pay. Once again, he was the school's highest-paid employee at $8,137,948. Freeman is making even more now.
Keep in mind that Freeman and Notre Dame agreed to a contract extension in December 2024, and then agreed to a new deal altogether in December 2025. The $8 million and change is obviously now outdated. It probably also included any sort of incentives he hit during his third season on the job. Because Notre Dame is a private school, we usually only have an idea of what a head coach is making.
There is a strong possibility that Freeman will eclipse the $10 million mark soon, if he has not already.
Notre Dame must keep paying Marcus Freeman a premium as head coach
One of the biggest advantages Freeman has by continuing to work for Notre Dame is the financial records do not need to be disclosed as regularly or as swiftly as they would at a public institution. We all had a feeling that Freeman was well-compensated during the early part of his Notre Dame tenure. That being said, the notion of his contract being clandestine in nature is great for him and the sport.
While he may not be making Curt Cignetti, Ryan Day, or Kirby Smart money yet, Freeman seems to be well on his way. If anybody is going to win a national championship at Notre Dame during the College Football era, it is going to be him. The Irish have been close a few times, but the 2024-25 team could have won it in another year. Freeman's alma mater of Ohio State was a bit of a buzz saw in that game...
For now, Freeman can continue to use coaching at a prestigious private school to his advantage, whenever that time may arise. Other teams in the Power Four might covet him, but outside of alma mater Ohio State potentially coming available, why would he ever leave? The big key here is the NFL may want Freeman. He has been courted by teams like Chicago Bears and New York Giants before...
Ultimately, Notre Dame has always been one of those jobs you never willingly leave. Kelly did, and look at how that turned out for him... Regardless, Freeman has ushered in a new era of Fighting Irish football. He has provided a cool factor that seems to cut through with many top-flight recruits in the country. As long as he continues to grow and evolve as a head coach, we are looking at an all-timer.
In retrospect, Freeman being paid over $8 million two seasons ago seems like chump change today.
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