There’s a history of Cincinnati influence in South Bend, including Kelly, who spent three seasons with the Bearcats before taking the Notre Dame job. A year before Kelly poached Freeman, he hired Bearcats defensive backs coach Mike Mickens, a Cincinnati alum who was a teammate of Freeman’s at Wayne High School outside of Dayton.

Say Marcus Freeman does take an NFL job. Who are the first calls you make to find his replacement at Notre Dame?

Is Marcus Freeman a candidate for the Chicago Bears opening? Here's everything to know about the NFL rumors surrounding Notre Dame's head coach:

One of the greatest linebackers to ever play football is incredibly impressed with Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame.

Jack Gorman/Getty Images As his team prepares for the College Football Playoff National Championship, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is reportedly a hot commodity within the NFL job market. Near the top of the list of interested parties is the Chicago Bears,