Alright, let’s talk about the hottest name in football right now—Marcus Freeman. This man’s about to step into the biggest game of his career, coaching Notre Dame in the national championship against Ohio State. But, of course, the NFL couldn’t just sit back and watch. Nah, they had to stir the pot. The rumor mill states the Chicago Bears want Freeman to swap his green for orange and blue. But here’s the kicker—Freeman’s got some heavy advice to chew on before he even thinks about that leap. And spoiler: it ain’t all roses in the NFL.

If there’s one thing college football analyst John Middlekauf knows, it’s bad jobs in the NFL. On Colin Cowherd’s podcast, Middlekauff didn’t mince words when asked what he’d do if he were Marcus Freeman and won the natty. “No, because these jobs are terrible,” he shot back. Straight, no chaser. Middlekauff wasn’t just blowing smoke either.

“Being a head coach in college now pays $10 to $12 million. You’re the coach, the GM, and your owner does not exist,” he added. Let’s pause here—$10 to $12 million? That’s Kardashian-level money, y’all. Freeman already inked a contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football at $9 million a year. In college football, you are your own boss. Nobody’s gonna question your call-plays or decisions as long as you keep winning.

Here’s the wild part: college football’s starting to feel like the NFL with cash. Steve Sarkisian earns $10.3 million annually, coaching at Texas, and even defensive coordinators are making significant salaries. Michigan’s DC, Don Martindale? He’s pulling in $2 million. Middlekauff hit the nail on the head: “In a place like Notre Dame, you can pay coordinators no different than the NFL.”

Now, about the Bears. Yeah, they’re right down the street from Notre Dame, but Middlekauf ain’t buying the hype. “Where’s he going to go? The Bears? That’s not a good job. He’d have to answer to Kevin Warren and deal with Ryan Poles. Right now, he’s the Ryan Poles,” Middlekauf fired shots.

Look, Freeman’s got the power in South Bend. At Notre Dame, he’s more than just the head coach; he’s practically royalty. Compare that to dealing with NFL owners, GMs, and constant media scrutiny. Yeah, no thanks.

Colin Cowherd compares Marcus Freeman to Sean McVay

But hold up. Not everyone’s saying Freeman should stay put. Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd is throwing major respect his way. Cowherd compared Freeman to none other than Sean McVay, the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl. “If you’ve ever been around Sean McVay or seen him at the podium, he’s different,” Cowherd said. “Marcus Freeman has a chance to be the youngest coach to win a national championship.”

And let’s be real—Cowherd’s not wrong about the vibe. Freeman’s got that magnetic charisma that makes players wanna run through walls for him. The type of energy that makes you believe anything’s possible. It’s no wonder Notre Dame’s program flipped the script after Brian Kelly dipped for the LSU job.

So, what’s Freeman thinking? For now, he focuses on beating Ohio State and making history with Notre Dame. But the NFL’s gonna keep knocking, and the Bears aren’t the only ones who’ll come calling. Still, you gotta wonder—does Freeman really wanna trade the Golden Dome for the NFL grind? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

Until then, let’s enjoy watching Freeman and the Irish chase that natty. And who knows? If the Irish win, maybe we’ll see Cowherd drop another Sean McVay reference.