Marcus Freeman is rumored to be a candidate for the New York Giants as they look to fill their head coach vacancy. He has found success in college football with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and is now reportedly receiving interest in transitioning to the NFL. A Giants insider recently clarified the rumors.
Marcus Freeman Is a Rumored Candidate for New York Giants HC
The Giants fired Brian Daboll during the 2025 NFL season amid another disappointing year as their head coach. They are reportedly expected to conduct an exhaustive search of many candidates in their efforts to find the best available replacement. Apparently, Freeman has been connected to them as a rumored candidate.
Giants insider Connor Hughes recently provided an update on the situation surrounding the swirling rumors of them targeting the collegiate head coach. He shared what knowledge he has of their potential pursuit and suggested what the most significant obstacle could be in theoretically acquiring him for next year.
“Everything I hear about Marcus Freeman and the Giants doesn’t center around whether or not New York wants him, but if he’s willing to leave Notre Dame. I think he’d be a home run hire and exactly what they are looking for as a culture builder,” shared Hughes.
Everything I hear about Marcus Freeman & the #Giants doesn’t center around whether or not New York wants him, but if he’s willing to leave Notre Dame.
I think he’d be a home run hire & exactly what they are looking for as a culture builder. Wouldn’t rule out Kafka returning as… https://t.co/YJLsKQZyYJ
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) December 21, 2025
Hughes is obviously in favor of the rumored partnership and even suggested that the Giants’ expansive search for a head coach is not necessarily a hurdle to theoretically hiring him.
He explained that he believes it lies more with Freeman and whether or not he is willing to leave his job in college football if he were to be officially offered an NFL position in New York.
The Giants are having a massively disappointing 2025 NFL season with just a 2-12 record entering their Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. They have been poor on both sides of the football, including ranking 23rd on offense and 29th on defense in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for this season.
Mike Kafka is currently serving as their interim head coach as a temporary replacement for Daboll to finish out this year, but the change has yet to spark them in the right direction.
Hughes did point out that Kafka is also a candidate to be promoted to their full-time head coach, but prefers the idea of Freeman due to the likely culture change that he would bring with him. They have made the playoffs just twice in the past 14 seasons, so they seem to need something significant.
