Marcus Freeman Joins Me To Discuss Notre Dame's Trajectory, Leadership Insights, & Growth Through Adversity
"You have to go through downs to get where you want to go," Freeman told me.
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Hey friends,
As my “Next Up” Podcast tour continues to roll along, my most recent episode took me to South Bend, Indiana for a raw and insightful conversation with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
The 39-year-old head coach took me through his journey to leading one of college football’s most storied programs just over a decade into his coaching career.
Freeman’s story of instant success as a head coach isn’t one absent of adversity. He opened up about the challenges of being a head coach, the hardships he faced throughout his playing career, and how those experiences shaped his leadership style.
This episode is packed with wisdom, behind-the-scenes stories, and powerful leadership insights from one of college football’s most respected minds.
Let’s dive into my three favorite takeaways from the interview.
1️⃣ Failure Coincides With Growth
After taking over for veteran head coach Brian Kelly ahead of the 2022 season, Freeman led Notre Dame to a nine-win campaign and a Gator Bowl victory in his first-ever go-around as a head coach.
In 2023, Freeman won 10 games. A year later, he led the Fighting Irish to a stellar 14-win season coupled with a national championship berth.
While Freeman currently boasts a superb 33-9 record in three years on the job, he wasn’t always regarded as one of the most sought-after up-and-coming head coaches in college football.
In 2021, Notre Dame fell to Marshall in week two, a showing in which USA Today called it the program’s “most embarrassing loss” in over a decade.
Two years later, Freeman’s bunch fell to Northern Illinois last September — a loss that, on paper, was more devastating than the falter to Marshall.
From that point forward, Freeman refocused Notre Dame’s veteran locker room, leading to 13 wins over the next 14 games.
“You’re going to have failure, and [you have to] understand that failure is a part of growth,” Freeman told me. “… If you would’ve told me when I was hired in 2021, in three seasons, you’re going to be playing in a national championship, I would’ve said, ‘Heck yeah, let’s go!’ But then, if you would’ve told me you’re going to lose nine games the next three years, I would’ve said, ‘Oh no, hold on.’”
During Notre Dame’s last six games in 2024, the Fighting Irish played five top-20 teams, including four ranked inside the top eight of the College Football Playoff rankings.
Freeman’s bunch rattled off a 5-1 record over that span, winning every game up to the national championship bout against Ohio State. On December 18, just three months after the gutting loss to NIU, Notre Dame signed Freeman to a long-term contract extension through 2030.
“You have to value delayed gratification,” Freeman said. “It takes time, and you’re going to go through some ups and downs, and that’s a part of growth. You have to go through downs to get where you want to go.”
2️⃣ Perspective Is Everything
As a coveted high school recruit himself, Freeman once hailed as a four-star linebacker from Dayton, Ohio, carrying offers from Ohio State, Florida, Miami, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma.
Ultimately, he elected to stay in-state and become a Buckeye under former head coach Jim Tressel.
Freeman initially thought he was talented enough to see snaps as a freshman, but Tressel had other thoughts. As a sophomore, Freeman injured his knee in Ohio State’s first game against Miami (OH), forcing him to medically redshirt.
“When you’re on your own, starting in college, adversity is a part of life,” Freeman said. “Being on your own and going through adversity teaches you how to be self-sufficient.”
However, in 2006, Freeman proved himself on the field, which turned into sustained individual success. Through 2008, he saw action in 39 games, accumulating 264 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two interceptions.
But, his NFL career lasted only one year. He was cut by the Chicago Bears after being selected as a fifth-round draft choice, then moved to the Bills and Texans, before the Colts identified a potential medical scare, forcing him to medically retire.
That was in 2009. Just over 10 years later, Freeman would find himself in the hallowed shadows of Notre Dame Stadium, leading to his calling of coaching.
“Perspective is everything, right?” Freeman told me. “You can feel sorry for yourself, which we all do at times, but if you have the perspective that, sometimes, those bloody wounds, those tough things that happen in your life, end up making you better and putting you in a better situation. Then, you have the perspective of ‘We needed that to happen...’ In order to grow, you have to struggle.”
3️⃣ Lead By Trust, Not Fear
For young head coaches, it’s often challenging to remain firm and command the full respect of the locker room while maintaining authentic relationships with players.
I asked Freeman about this, and he said there are two ways coaches often go about cultivating their unique leadership style.
“There are two different thought processes,” Freeman told me. “You can lead by fear, where, maybe, these guys that you’re leading don’t know you, and they fear you, and they’re going to do what you say based out of fear. Or, you can lead by trust.”
“I choose to lead out of trust,” Freeman said firmly.
As a trust-based leader, Freeman always acts intentionally towards his team and staff. He thinks it’s important to spend time off the field with his program so they know him, his family, and his personality outside of being called “coach” inside the facility.
“We have a relationship where I’m going to hold you accountable,” Freeman said. “I have to hold you accountable, but it’s because I care about you. Because I want to see you have success.”
Freeman’s authenticity has continued to bear fruits on the recruiting trail for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame inked the 12th-best class nationally in 2025.
Currently, the Fighting Irish already have five four-star prospects committed to Freeman’s program for the 2026 cycle.
“It takes intentional actions to build that trust,” Freeman reiterated.
To watch my full sit-down with Freeman inside Notre Dame’s locker room, click here.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email at adam@brenemanmedia.com.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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