Marcus Freeman showed why Notre Dame fans love him beyond just winning football games. The Fighting Irish head coach reminded his team about something bigger than their playoff chase this week.
Freeman learned that a Notre Dame fan from Steubenville named JJ lost his father during the Pittsburgh game on November 15. His response to this tragedy earned widespread praise from college football personalities, including ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
Kirk Herbstreit on Marcus Freeman’s tribute to Notre Dame fan
Freeman meets with his assistant Katy Lonergan every morning to go through important emails and things they need to discuss. She told him about the young man whose father passed away at the Pitt game earlier this month.
The story hit Marcus Freeman hard and sparked deep reflection about his role. People said the father “died the perfect death” because he was at a Notre Dame game with his family. Freeman said, “It hit me, like the gratitude I have for this opportunity,” as the Irish head coach.
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He explained, “It reminded me that it’s gonna be somebody else’s first game watching our team play. It’s gonna be somebody else’s lifelong dream to watch us play on Saturday.” Freeman admitted, “Sometimes you need to remind yourself of that because you take it for granted sometimes. And we can’t take it for granted.”
Marcus Freeman decided to share this message with his team during a Wednesday practice. He wanted them to understand the bigger picture beyond their individual motivations. He told them, “I just thought it was a way for me on a Wednesday to remind our team, ‘Yes, Team Glory matters for each other'”.
Video of Freeman discussing this perspective eventually made its way to social media. The account IrishDaily10 shared clips of Freeman talking about appreciating moments during the grind. Herbstreit saw the footage and felt compelled to comment publicly about Freeman’s leadership approach.
On November 25, Herbstreit posted his reaction on X, praising Freeman’s mindset. He wrote, “Love his perspective-so challenging to pull yourself out of your daily grind to recognize this and remember it.” The ESPN analyst clearly connected with Freeman’s message about gratitude and perspective.
Love his perspective-so challenging to pull yourself out of your daily grind to recognize this and remember it. Love that that he shared it-Great reminder for us all! https://t.co/6tsXIWsgZO
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 25, 2025
Herbstreit added in his post, “Love that that he shared it-Great reminder for us all!” The veteran broadcaster appreciated how Marcus Freeman used a tragedy to teach his players a meaningful lesson. Freeman’s willingness to be vulnerable with his team stood out to Herbstreit and others watching.
Freeman also discussed how difficult it becomes to appreciate moments while living through intense pressure. He told reporters, “Right now, we’re in the middle of this thing, and it’s high pressure. I mean, it’s like an anxiousness for this opportunity. You’re in the middle of the grind”.
The coach reflected, “I’m sure this is what I felt last year at this time. But as you look back, you just see the big picture, what it turned into”. He noted, “You don’t remember how you felt after Northern Illinois or as you got ready for the season finale at USC,” when looking back.
Marcus Freeman’s character has become just as notable as his coaching ability throughout his tenure. His genuine care for players and fans resonates beyond Notre Dame’s campus. These moments explain why Freeman continues to win hearts, even during challenging seasons marked by losses.
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