Giants, Marcus Freeman Pairing Would be Bad News for Both Sides

The New York Giants are searching for a new head coach, and apparently, Notre Dame Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman is on their list of candidates.

Is the interest legitimate? Is it mutual? Does it make sense for either side?

Ed Valentine of Big Blue View was asked about the Giants' head-coaching hunt in a recent mailbag, and he specifically mentioned Freeman as a candidate in which New York may have serious interest.

"I will buy on the idea that there is interest in Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman," Valentine wrote. "There have been some reports that the Giants have a list of preferred candidates. I have my guesses who might be on that list, but I think we have to wait until the season is over and see who is actually available."

Let me start by saying this: I absolutely love Marcus Freeman. He is a terrific coach and an even better person. He has done a tremendous job taking an already strong Notre Dame program to newer heights, and his players seem to think the world of him.

But let's be real here for a second: he only has four full seasons of coaching experience on the collegiate level, and we know the track record of college coaches in the NFL.

Outside of a few big names, it isn't good, and with Freeman having such a small sample size of a track record at Notre Dame, why should the Giants be looking at him as a top option?

Not only that, but why would Freeman even want to bolt South Bend for the Big Apple at this point?

Freeman made it abundantly clear following the Fighting Irish's College Football Play snub that he has unfinished business at hand. Notre Dame didn't even accept a bowl bid because it was so peeved over the fact that it missed the CFP, which tells you everything you need to know.

The Fighting Irish are a year removed from an appearance in the National Championship Game, where they unfortunately ran into an Ohio State Buckeyes buzzsaw that was one of the most loaded teams in recent memory.

It seems hard to imagine Freeman leaving now, especially for a high-pressure job like that of the Giants, a franchise that is begging for a revival.

Maybe Freeman would be terrific, but the fit just doesn't make a ton of sense right now. If Freeman had eight or nine years of head-coaching experience on the NCAA level rather than just four, I would be more inclined to think there could be a match here.

But at this point? I just don't think it would be the best move for either side.

The Giants need someone with more history, and Freeman should probably avoid such a risky job at this stage of his career.