Seems like the NFL is running low on top head coaches, or maybe CFB coaches like Marcus Freeman are just too tempting. Either way, all eyes are on Notre Dame’s star coach as he’s linked to the NFL. Following Matt Eberflus‘ last action as the head coach of the Bears, which involved allowing the clock to run out instead of utilizing a timeout, his tenure came to a disastrous conclusion. Now, as the Bears search for a new head coach, Freeman appears to be in contention.

Let’s get this straight. Marcus Freeman is eye candy for many NFL teams, and the Bears are pushing hard for him. Who doesn’t want a coach who made his team the defensive powerhouse that won a game against a title-winning team like Georgia? But Yahoo Sports analyst Dan Wetzel thinks that it’s not something Marcus should fall for, as he says, “I don’t see Marcus Freeman leaving right now for the Chicago Bears, and I would not recommend that he do it i think he’s a young guy, and he’s got a long future, and the NFL isn’t going anywhere, and he’s got Notre Dame kind of popping i think there’s another gear for Notre Dame i know they’re in the championship game, but their level of recruiting can finally get over that hump that they want.”

Now that’s a straight fact. Notre Dame is about to play in the playoff finals against Ohio State, and that’s all because of Marcus Freeman’s exceptional coaching skills. Plus, his journey from 9-4 to 11-1 shows his skill set. Moreover, Dan Wetzel is right about the kind of talent Notre Dame will finally be attracting—the kind of talent they deserve. The team currently has 14 four-star recruits and 10 three-star recruits among their 24-strong commits. It’s not the right time to leave Notre Dame.

Dan Wetzel is not just stopping at that; he also takes a sarcastic shot at the Chicago Bears, saying, “I think you know, look, if it’s the Chiefs who want you, it’s one thing; if it’s the Bears, it’s another, um, you know, even with, uh, Caleb Williams and all.” That’s pretty harsh but true because the only good thing about the Bears is their quarterback, Caleb Williams, but he can also not beat the Kansas City Chiefs 15-2 record alone, right? Isn’t the goal always to take a weak program and make it the best it can be?

Moreover, it’s not like the Chicago Bears have all their fate in Marcus Freeman only. The Bears’ are also looking for various opportunities, but here’s the catch: most of the candidates they’ve interviewed are still in the NFL playoffs. While Detroit’s Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson have already discussed plans, the Lions’ first playoff game isn’t until January 18th or 19th. Meanwhile, Todd Monken and the Ravens are already in the divisional round after taking down the Steelers. That’s quite messy. But the question here is, is Freeman’s move to the NFL actually a smart decision?

Is Marcus Freeman’s NFL move worth it?

Well, the gap between college football and the pro league has definitely shrunk, especially financially. Now the top CFB coaches are earning more than many NFL counterparts. Crazy, right? Take Marcus Freeman, for instance, who just signed a contract extension with Notre Dame and now makes $9 million annually. This makes it clear that transitioning to the NFL won’t be a straightforward path for every coach. In order to prove himself, Freeman has to start with a lower paycheck. Also, with these kinds of salaries, it’s not as simple as just making the leap—it’s a whole different ballgame when it comes to coaching careers.

Moreover, only 7 out of 32 NFL coaches make more than Marcus Freeman, and all of them have either won a Super Bowl or been to multiple of them. For example, take coach Kyle Shanahan. Now think about it: isn’t it better to stay at Notre Dame and build on a program that’s already one of the strongest in the league rather than struggling in the NFL both financially and emotionally? Sure, he’s built credibility at CFB, but he’ll have to prove himself in the NFL. So, if Freeman’s serious about making this “step up,” it’ll come with a big price. Just like the issue Steve Sarkisian is dealing with in his NFL move.

However, it’s all for nothing unless the Bears secure an interview, which depends on Freeman and the school. Right now, it looks like he’s staying put, but stranger things have happened this season, so if this too happens, it will surely not be something surprising. Plus the Bears are also eyeing other names like Lions’ OC Ben Johnson and Mike McCarthy. Moreover, they’ve tried interviewing McCarthy, but his employers blocked it. Will the third time be the charm? We’ll see if the Bears can finally make their move with Marcus Freeman, which looks tough for now.