Steelers Now
One of the Pittsburgh Steelers top options to replace head coach Mike Tomlin has been ruled out.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now tasked with finding their next head coach after Mike Tomlin shocked the football world on Tuesday with his resignation. However, one of the top options to replace him is already off the board.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, despite having interest from several NFL teams, head coach Marcus Freeman is expected to stay Notre Dame’s head coach for the 2026 season.
In spite of interest from several NFL teams, Marcus Freeman still is expected to remain at Notre Dame for the 2026 season, per sources. pic.twitter.com/6yaJXtapxD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2026
Freeman, 40, would instantly become one of the most sought-after options for one of the league’s nine head coaching openings after leading Notre Dame to the CFP National Championship game last January.
The Fighting Irish then won their final 10 games this season before being snubbed for the CFP and finishing No. 11 in this season’s final standings.
It comes as no surprise that Notre Dame is doing everything it can to retain its rising head coach. It even reportedly gave him an enhanced contract last month.
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua followed it up by saying Freeman is “the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop.”
Of course, that could always change if an NFL team provides an intriguing enough opportunity to pry Freeman away, but the news certainly dropped at an interesting time — just hours after Tomlin made his announcement.
Freeman would have big shoes to fill after Tomlin finished his 19-year run in Pittsburgh without a losing season as well as a Super Bowl XLIII championship.
However, Freeman’s success at the collegiate level has many believing he could have similar success in the NFL.
The only question is: What would it take to convince him to leave Notre Dame?
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Potential Top Mike Tomlin Replacement Ruled Out For Steelers
