Former Buckeye James Laurinaitis To Join Marcus Freeman’s Staff At Notre Dame

Former Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis will reunite with Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame on Jan. 10.

Laurinaitis announced Monday on 97.1 The Fan’s “Bishop and Laurinaitis” that he will join Freeman’s staff after the latter became head coach of the program in early December. The pair played together under Jim Tressell and Luke Fickell from 2005-08 and have developed a long-standing friendship from their days in Columbus.

Freeman and Notre Dame have not yet announced what Laurinaitis’ role will be, though he is not expected to be a position coach. Laurinaitis is making his first deep dive into coaching after an All-American career at Ohio State, which he followed up with an eight-year career in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints.

After retiring from the league, he became a color commentator for the Big Ten Network and hosted a local radio show with Beau Bishop on 97.1 The Fan. He will continue co-hosting that show until the end of the week before traveling to South Bend, Ind., to work with Freeman.

Laurinaitis’ first game at Notre Dame will be in Columbus, as the Fighting Irish will the Buckeyes in the season opener for both teams on Sept. 3, 2022, in Ohio Stadium.