Even with the Fighting Irish vying for their first national championship since Ronald Regan was president, there is a growing sense of trepidation among Notre Dame fans heading into next week's title game against Ohio State.
The NFL's Chicago Bears are reportedly planning to interview Irish head coach Marcus Freeman for their vacancy, according to NFL Network. And that news has caused panic and denial among the Notre Dame faithful.
“No,” wrote one Irish fan on X. “Not allowed.”
“Freeman is the best thing to happen to this team in a LONG time,” another added. “I hope he doesn't chase money to go to the NFL.” I hope they don't make you an offer you can't refuse.
One fan put it simply: “Tell the Bears to kick rocks.”
Many others simply refused to believe Freeman would have interest in the position, particularly after signing an extension in October that should keep him in South Bend for six more seasons.
The NFL's Chicago Bears are reportedly planning to interview Irish head coach Marcus Freeman (pictured) for their vacancy, according to NFL Network.
Notre Dame fans are seen reacting during Thursday's Orange Bowl victory over Penn State.
“Guess he has a big buyout since it's the first year of his new contract,” one fan wrote on X.
Several other Notre Dame fans suggested the Bears hire LSU coach Brian Kelly, who defected from South Bend to Baton Rouge in November 2021, allowing Freeman to be promoted to interim coach.
“They should go after Brian Kelly,” one wrote. “He has a history of leaving the team at any time.”
Freeman, of course, has more pressing matters at the moment. The head coach is leading the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish into a clash against eighth-seeded Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
Freeman owns a 33-9 coaching record with Notre Dame and is one win away from leading the program to its first national championship since the 1988 season.
Freeman, 39, is no stranger to the Bears either. He was selected by Chicago in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
Another former Bears player, Ron Rivera, who served as head coach of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders, interviewed for the Chicago job on Sunday.
Rivera, who recently celebrated his 63rd birthday, has a 102-103-2 record as an NFL head coach, coaching nine years in Carolina and another four in Washington. His tenure in Carolina was by far his most successful, including four playoff seasons and an NFC championship in 2015.
Bears fans haven't had much to celebrate in one of the NFL's most competitive divisions.
Several other Notre Dame fans suggested the Bears hire LSU coach Brian Kelly, who defected from South Bend to Baton Rouge in 2021, allowing Freeman to move up.
A nine-year pro, Rivera was selected in the second round (44th overall) by the Bears in the 1984 NFL Draft and, as a reserve linebacker, was a member of the famed 1985 Super Bowl champions.
The Bears are searching for a head coach to replace Matt Eberflus, who was fired after Week 13 with the team at 4-8. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown finished the season with a 1-4 record and Chicago finished last in the tough NFC North.
The Bears are scheduled to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores as well as offensive coordinators Kliff Kingsbury (Washington Commanders), Todd Monken (Baltimore Ravens) and Arthur Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers) this week.
They have already interviewed offensive coordinators Ben Johnson (Detroit Lions), Drew Petzing (Arizona Cardinals) and Mike Kafka (New York Giants), defensive coordinators Aaron Glenn (Lions) and Anthony Weaver (Miami Dolphins), and former coach Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete. Carroll.
Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel also interviewed, but is out of the running after being named coach of the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams leaves the field after a loss on December 26.
Two upset losses stood out among the rest of college football this season. Notre Dame suffered one of them. Ohio State is the other.
In years past, those losses might have been enough to keep both teams out of contention for a national title. This year, with the debut of the 12-team playoff, those two teams will play for it.
The Buckeyes beat Texas 28-14 on Friday night to set up a Jan. 20 matchup against the Fighting Irish. Ohio State hasn't lost since falling 13-10 to Michigan in November. Notre Dame hasn't lost since falling 16-14 to Northern Illinois in September.
Ohio State is seeking its sixth AP national title, ninth overall and first since the College Football Playoff debuted in 2014 with a four-team playoff. Notre Dame is going for its 12th championship, but its first since 1988.
This matchup between the Big Ten and the Independents means this is the second year in a row that the Southeastern Conference will be excluded from the finals after winning the championship in six of the previous eight years.
Ohio State opens as a 9 1/2-point favorite according to BetMGM. Ohio State won the meetings in 2022 and 2023 and leads the series 6-2.
This season's losses helped set the tone for both teams as they embarked on the type of comeback that may not have been possible in previous years.
“The time you're tested the most is when you're at your lowest,” said Freeman, who will become the first Black coach to capture the national title with a victory. “We lose to Northern Illinois and you have a decision: ‘Do I want to be selfless? Or am I going to put individual glory before myself?
Mitch Jeter #98 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with Pat Coogan #78 after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions 27-24 in the Capital One Orange Bowl
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Michigan's game is “what life is about.”
“You have to go through adversity along the way, and how you handle adversity is how you define life, and these guys are learning life lessons right now,” Day said.
The game will pit Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard against Ohio State's Will Howard, each of whom are in their first year at their schools after entering the transfer portal after last season.
Although there was no money involved, both players said they moved to schools to try to win a title.
“The truth is, I came here to win a national championship and to go to the best team that would give me the best chance to do it,” said Riley, who moved to Notre Dame from Duke.
“I had a list of things I was looking for, in terms of needing to go somewhere where there was a lot of talent around me and where I could compete for a national championship,” Howard told ESPN last year, shortly after made the transfer from the state of Kansas.