Notre Dame fans thought the Blue-Gold game would give them answers. It did—but not the kind they expected. One of the Irish’s most reliable arms just dipped out, and if you thought it was about playing time alone… nah, it runs deeper than that. Let’s just say Marcus Freeman isn’t just calling plays—he’s making chess moves behind the scenes. And one of them? Might’ve pushed Steve Angeli out the back door while Freeman slapped a 7-figure Band-Aid on a bleeding roster situation.

For Steve Angeli, 2024 was all about biding time. He didn’t light up the scoreboard, but he was smooth, clean, and did what he was told. When Riley Leonard ran the show, Angeli stayed sharp in the shadows. 11 games. 268 yards. 3 tuddies. Not a single pick. That’s a solid ‘don’t mess it up’ stat line if there ever was one. But when the lights got big in the Orange Bowl, Angeli got his little window—and he stepped through it like a vet. That drive before the half? Ice in the veins. But after spring ball in 2025? Whole different vibe.

Things got spicy. Marcus Freeman had three QBs, and that’s two too many if you’re trying to make a natty run. Kenny Minchey was out here flipping in the end zone like he was in the circus, CJ Carr was slinging dimes so pretty they made grown men gasp, and Angeli… he was just being steady Steve. That’s not a diss—it’s just facts. Look, Steve’s got a high floor, but in Freeman’s world? He’s playing for the ceiling. So, Freeman gave him the real. No fluff, no “we’ll see what happens.” He told Angeli straight-up, “We movin’ forward with two.” And just like that, Angeli was out.

On April 20th, on the Ruffino and Joe podcast, Joe DeLeone didn’t dance around it. “There’s been a very different outlook on this race than I thought. Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr have been spectacular, and Steve Angeli has been exactly as we’ve portrayed him—very high floor, but he is nowhere near as high-ceiling as either Carr or Minchey. And we saw this in the spring game. Minchey was extremely mobile and athletic—he did a freaking backflip after he scored a touchdown. CJ Carr was pinpoint accurate, and he was very decisive. And none of the big plays came from Steve Angeli.” Then he went in deeper…..

“Steve Angeli did just enough, and I think that Marcus Freeman has always been a player-first coach. And from my understanding—the way that I read into this—he wanted to narrow the quarterback race down to two guys. You can’t have a three-QB race going into the fall.” Translation? Freeman isn’t the type to leave you hanging with false promises. He keeps it a buck. Told Steve, ‘You wanna play, go chase it.’ It’s tough love. But it’s love.

And Angeli? He took the message and bet on himself. No press conferences. No drama. Steve just hit the portal and kept pushing like a real pro. He knew his number wasn’t getting called again unless something went wrong. And who wants to sit behind two hotshot QBs waiting for a “maybe”? Not Angeli. So, salute to him for keeping it solid and making a business decision. That’s grown man football.

In simple terms, Steve Angeli didn’t ball out at their annual Blue-Gold spring. Guess who played their heart out? CJ Carr. The former 5-star came to South Bend with a name and backed it up with game. That Blue-Gold showing? Straight clinic. 14-of-19, 170 yards, two tuddies, one pick—but even that pick couldn’t dim the glow. Carr was simply putting passes on dots. It wasn’t just completions—it was how he got them. Anticipation, placement, poise. And Minchey? Mobile, creative, and yeah—he hit a backflip after scoring. Showoff. But in a QB race, you need one guy who’s surgical and another who can make chaos work in his favor. Carr and Minchey gave Freeman both. Angeli just didn’t fit that puzzle anymore.

Marcus Freeman’s 7-figure band-aid

Losing a quarterback is one thing. Losing your right-hand man? Whole different L. When Chad Bowden dipped to USC, Notre Dame’s recruiting machine felt the jolt. Bowden wasn’t just some clipboard guy—he was the lifeblood of the Irish’s behind-the-scenes hustle. So when Freeman had to find a replacement, he didn’t scroll through résumés—he went deep-sea fishing and pulled an NFL shark straight outta Detroit.

Mike Martin. The man’s spent nearly 20 years in the league. Most recently helped build the 15-2 Lions squad that tore through the NFC. Before that? Worked the Panthers, Texans—you name it. Scouting, roster-building, player development. This guy knows what elite looks like. So Freeman reportedly slapped a multi-year deal worth over $500K annually, plus hefty bonuses likely pushing it into seven-figure territory, right onto his table. J.D. PicKell from On3 called it what it is: A boss move.

Think about it—Martin had it good in Detroit. He was sitting comfy in the war room of a franchise on the rise. But Freeman sold him a vision. One where Notre Dame isn’t just shiny gold helmets and old-school mystique. Nah, this next chapter is about real substance. “This, to me, is a substance move,” PicKell said. “Not just a ‘fill the seat’ kind of thing.” He’s right. Freeman’s trying to stack talent like an NFL GM and develop it like a college coach. That combo? Deadly.

And here’s the kicker—Martin ain’t stepping on Freeman’s toes. He’s not trying to be another recruiter in sneakers knocking on high school doors. That’s Freeman’s territory. “What Notre Dame requires from a GM,” PicKell said, “isn’t someone that’s going to go, you know, be an intense recruiter… that’s what Marcus Freeman does.” And he’s a dog at it. Martin’s job? Handle the roster like a pro. Evaluate, strategize, and bring the NFL eye to college grind. That’s how you stay two steps ahead in the NIL era.

Steve Angeli’s exit stings a little, but Marcus Freeman’s not sweating it. He was honest with his QB room, and when the dust settled, the two best options stayed. Then, while folks were still reacting to Angeli’s move, Freeman upgraded his whole front office like it was nothing. Mike Martin brings pedigree, professionalism, and that NFL vision the Irish have been missing. Freeman’s moves? Cold. Calculated. Bossed up. South Bend isn’t just about tradition anymore. It’s about transformation. And Marcus Freeman is steering the damn ship like he’s tired of finishing second.