The video is engrained in the heads of Notre Dame fans across the country and world.
Players were being addressed after a workout in December 2021, just days before they were set to play Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl. At the time, they were without a permanent solution at head coach, as Brian Kelly had departed for LSU days prior.
Kelly’s departure left Notre Dame without a head football coach for the first time in 12 seasons. It was also the first time in as many years the future of the program was unclear. The transfer portal had well-established itself as a popular tool for players experiencing adversity. Losing a head coach, the one that may have directly or indirectly recruited active players, is as good a reason as any to jump into the portal.
But in a matter of moments, the look of despair and confusion turned to joy and pure emotion when defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman walked through the door. His reaction said it all — screaming, pumping his fists and excitedly running up to his team. Yes, HIS team.
The players matched his energy, and despite a loss a few days later in the Fiesta Bowl, the future was bright with a young head coach who can relate to players and bring out the best in them.
Now, as Freeman prepares for his fourth season leading the charge in South Bend, one thing remains clear: He was the right man for the job.
Marcus Freeman was the right hire for Notre Dame football then and now
“Marcus’ ability to connect with people, his fit at Notre Dame and the way he coaches young men set him apart as we went through our search process,” Notre Dame Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick said in a joint statement in 2021. “I can’t wait to see how the culture created by these remarkable student-athletes continues to grow under the tutelage of Marcus and his staff.”
Freeman brought stability to the Notre Dame locker room. He’s also brought in solid recruiting classes on a yearly basis.
The talent level of the players, along with top-notch coaching, has led to success. In his first season, Notre Dame went 9-4, beating South Carolina in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl to cap off Freeman’s first season at the helm.
A 10-win season in 2023 followed, with the breakout year coming last season when Notre Dame made a run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, losing to Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have been a thorn in Freeman and the Irish’s side since he took over. Notre Dame opened the 2022 season with a loss to them, and lost again in 2023. In the last five meetings dating back to 2003, Notre Dame is 0-5 against Ohio State.
There have been some slip ups in Freeman’s tenure, most notably against group of five opponents.
Notre Dame fell to Marshall at home in 2022. Last season, Northern Illinois went into South Bend and knocked off the Irish. But that lit a fire that resulted in a national championship berth.
While the slip ups are bad, there’s also been plenty of good. Notre Dame beat No. 4 Clemson in South Bend in 2022. The same year, No. 16 Syracuse fell to the Irish. Wins over No. 17 Duke and No. 19 Oregon State came in 2023, followed by seven wins over ranked opponents last season (Texas A&M, Louisville, Navy, Army, Indiana, Georgia and Penn State).
The 2025 schedule doesn’t appear as daunting for now, with arguably the toughest games loaded in the front with Miami in the season opener and Texas A&M to follow. But there’s no telling what Arkansas may do, as well as USC.
And Notre Dame has its fair share of question marks, too, particularly with the quarterback position. All of that will be ironed out in the coming weeks leading up to the start of the season. Expectations are high yet again for Notre Dame, both from outside sources and internally in the eyes of Freeman.
No matter the situation the last three seasons, he never lost faith in his team. That’s why Irish fans shouldn’t lose faith in him. Barring a move to the NFL, the Fighting Irish have the right head coach for years to come.