Notre Dame, on cusp of playoff appearance, announces long-term extension with head coach Marcus Freeman

Notre Dame and football coach Marcus Freeman have agreed to a long-term extension that will make Freeman one of the highest-paid coaches in the country. Per a source with knowledge of the negotiations, the deal is a four-year extension that keeps one of college football’s rising stars in South Bend through the 2030 season.

The school announced the extension on Sunday night, five days before the seventh-ranked Fighting Irish host No. 10 Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It’s the third time Notre Dame has participated in the CFP and the first time under Freeman.

The Irish are 30-9 in Freeman’s three seasons. His teams are 11-4 vs. top-25 opponents; he’s beaten more ranked opponents in his first three seasons than any other coach in Notre Dame’s storied history.

The school’s commitment to football will go beyond Freeman’s contract; his staff salary pool is also expected to rank among the nation’s biggest. Notre Dame’s new state-of-the-art football operations and training facility — Jack and Kathy Shields Family Hall — is under construction. It is expected to open in fall 2026.

Freeman, 38, was hired as Notre Dame’s head coach in December 2021 following Brian Kelly’s departure to LSU. He had spent the previous season as the Irish defensive coordinator and linebackers coach; players actively pushed for him to get the job. Freeman, a first-time head coach, has certainly had his ups and downs over his first three seasons with big wins but also a few notable losses. Year 1 was marred by an upset loss to Marshall. Back in Week 2 of this season, the Irish lost a stunner to Northern Illinois that nearly derailed their year.

But then Notre Dame won its next 10 games — many in dominating fashion — and secured a spot in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. Freeman has said that he used the NIU loss to motivate the Irish the rest of the season, telling his players at the time that it could be the greatest thing to happen to them if they learn from it.

“It was; it’s hard to say that,” Freeman said after Notre Dame beat USC to finish the year 11-1. “The greatest thing that happened to this program this season was a loss, because it taught us what it takes to handle success. It taught us what it takes to have success. That’s why I said just keep the pain. I don’t want to go back to that place. We don’t need to go back there to remember how it feels. We’ll look back and be thankful for it.”

Notre Dame-Indiana will kick off at Notre Dame Stadium at 8 p.m. ET on Friday night, with the winner advancing to play No. 2 Georgia at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

Here Come The Irish, a behind-the-scenes look at Notre Dame’s current season, is now available exclusively on Peacock.