Did Marcus Freeman play in the NFL?

Marcus Freeman is a renowned professional American football coach. He currently serves as the University of Notre Dame's head coach. He previously held the positions of linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at the same university in 2021.

He has also worked as an assistant manager at several universities, including Ohio State University, Purdue University, University of Cincinnati, and Kent State University.

But did the University of Notre Dame's head coach ever play in the NFL?

Marcus Freeman had a brief spell in the NFL

Marcus Freeman previously participated in college football at Ohio State. He played 51 games for Ohio State University while he was a student.

He was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft but was waived. Later, in September 2009, he signed up for the Buffalo Bills practice team before being released later in October of the same year.

Marcus Freeman eventually signed with the Houston Texans in November 2009. Unfortunately, his career came to an end on May 1, 2010, due to a heart condition.

Freeman has amassed a net worth of about $3 million via his employment as an American football coach at numerous colleges, including the University of Notre Dame.

Marcus Freeman went to his old college, Ohio State, to seek a career in sports after leaving the NFL in 2010 because of a heart ailment. He worked for a while with associate athletic director Pat Chun and for some time with his old manager Luke Fickell, since he wasn't sure whether he should be in administration or coaching.

Freeman faced a decision after these roles and finally decided to become a coach. Currently, a DA at Washington State, Chun stated:

"He's the kind of guy who could have done whatever he wanted. He's just a good person."

It's clear that Freeman made the right decision as he made his way to the forefront as the much-anticipated option to succeed Brian Kelly as the college's football head coach.

Freeman, 36, has earned one of the most illustrious coaching positions in the sport just over 10 years after deciding to pursue a career in coaching.

One of the hardest positions in collegiate football is at Notre Dame. However, behind the curtains at the renowned institution, AD Jack Swarbrick and others concluded that Freeman could withstand the enormity of the responsibilities.

He is only the second African-American to coach the team (first one being Tyrone Willingham). However, he also has a distinction that he wouldn't have wanted, becoming the first head coach to start a season 0-3. It's never an easy ride in sports.