The Tennessee Titans seem interested in plucking a new head coach from the college ranks.
Before HC Lane Kiffin went from Ole Miss to LSU, the Titans were linked to him. It was also reported that Texas HC Steve Sarkisian contacted the team, which he has since denied. Now, the franchise is reportedly eyeing another college coach: Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, who guided the Fighting Irish to the national championship in the 2024 season.
“Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman’s name has been heavily circulated in recent weeks,” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler in a story published Wednesday. “Here’s what I know. Yes, the Giants are expected to have interest in him when the carousel kicks off. But the Titans have done their research, too. And so have a few teams that will either have an opening or potentially could have one.”
Would hiring Marcus Freeman be a good idea for the Titans?
Fowler noted Freeman, who has a 43-12 record in five seasons at Notre Dame, will determine if he wants to go to the NFL over the next few weeks. If he jumps to the pros and takes the Titans job, it would make a splash but raise questions.
Most college coaches flop in the league. See three-time national champion Urban Meyer, who went 2-11 in 13 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2021 season before being fired. Many were happy to see the former Florida/Ohio State HC go.
However, 39-year-old Freeman should be better able to connect with players than 61-year-old Meyer. He also briefly played in the league, making him more relatable to players.
The Chicago Bears took the former Ohio State linebacker with pick No. 154 in the 2009 NFL Draft, but he served as a practice squad member. He then spent time on the practice squads of the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before a heart condition forced him to retire in 2010.
On Instagram, former ESPN reporter Paul Kuharsky said a new Titans coach should prioritize player relationships. That may make Freeman a more attractive candidate to Tennessee (3-12).
It’s hard to tell whether Freeman’s offense and defense will translate to the NFL. But his football IQ must have impressed the Chicago Bears last offseason. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported they inquired about him before hiring Ben Johnson.
Speaking of Johnson, who has piloted Chicago to an 11-4 record, it doesn’t look like there’s another candidate who’s of a similar caliber in the upcoming hiring cycle. One of the top names is Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. He made the playoffs in his first season as Bears HC in 2018 but went 22-27 in his final three seasons with the team.
Considering the pool of head coaching candidates looks far from exceptional, it’s easy to understand why the Titans may want to gamble on Freeman. The team could use a spark after going 6-26 over its past 32 games. A young ascending coach may provide just that.