Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Freeman and their representation in their playoffs – Andscape

The paths of Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman only crossed for one season in South Bend, Indiana, but they both find each other in a unique playoff position.

A small percentage of the football population identifies as both Black and Asian American. In 2023, the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports reported that 0.1% of NFL players were Asian. The NCAA reported in 2024 that 1% of Division I head coaches across all sports were Asian.

Hamilton, whose Ravens face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round on Sunday, and Freeman, whose Fighting Irish will face Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, are both proudly representing their heritage black and Korean in their respective playoffs.

“I think, number one, the success of anyone, any minority in a position of power, is cool to see, especially at an institution like Notre Dame,” said Hamilton, who played at Notre Dame in 2019 to 2021. Freeman was defensive coordinator in the South. Bend during Hamilton’s junior year. “You know, it’s a predominantly white Catholic school and to have a black Korean head coach lead the team to the championship, it’s pretty cool when you step back and look at it.”

Freeman and Hamilton are two men doing what they love while proving to the next generation of Black and Asian athletes that it’s possible. Freeman will make history as the first Black and Asian head coach to advance to the Football Bowl Subdivision national championship.

“If being a Black and Asian head coach in the college football national championship gives other people that opportunity, then that’s great,” Freeman said during a Jan. 12 news conference. “I’ve always said this: I don’t want that. be about me. I want it to be about others, others getting opportunities and our team.

In September 2024, ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes and Hamilton connected on her podcast about their shared Korean heritage. They talked about growing up with Korean moms, the Asian presence in the NFL and even invited Freeman as a guest.

“There was a moment where I think all Koreans understood it and kind of supported Notre Dame, because you know how Koreans are, we understand that someone is Korean and we are in the tank for them, forever,” Kimes said on his Hamilton and Freeman show.

Freeman said on the show: “You don’t just meet half-Koreans or Koreans every day. I remember when I had the chance to find out about Kyle’s background, now you know we have a common place, and I understood and I said, “We’re both Blasians now”, (I I) got to see pictures of his mom and showed him pictures of my mom and those are things that really help you build a relationship.

Kimes asked Freeman when he realized Hamilton was “him.” His response? An unforgettable interception at Florida State. With Freeman poised to make history on Monday, Andscape asked Hamilton the opposite: Was there a specific moment when he realized Freeman was a championship-level coach?

“I think from day one he kind of brought a different energy and standard to defense because he was just my defensive coordinator when I was there,” Hamilton said. “He created a bunch of things that we could hold on to throughout the year, no matter what we were struggling with, whether it was a saying or a quote. We would go in and out and put our heads down and work and he worked well with us and all the staff. I just appreciated that and that consistency.

Following his junior season at Notre Dame, Hamilton entered the 2022 NFL Draft and was selected in the first round (14th overall) by the Ravens. His first three seasons in the league were a compilation of league and conference honors, including PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2022, two Pro Bowl selections and an AP All-Pro selection in 2024 .

But he left the Ravens practice facility Wednesday carrying a navy blue backpack featuring the Notre Dame leprechaun.

“…Just by being (and feeling) proud of my school, they made it to the championship,” Hamilton said. “I think they still have work to do; you know, we’re not just happy to go, we have to win the game. I hope we get there.

Hamilton has used his platform to represent his Korean heritage, including adding a Korean flag sticker to the back of his helmet last season as part of the NFL’s heritage initiative.

“My mother is actually South Korean and was born there. (She) came to the United States around the age of 13. Growing up, my brother and I were immersed in the culture,” Hamilton explained in a video on baltimoreravens.com.

Freeman and Hamilton are the story of a coach and player striving to excel, while also being examples of positive representation. Hamilton spoke openly about the responsibility and opportunity to proudly represent his heritage.

“It’s not something I always think about, but it’s something I’m always aware of,” Hamilton said. “I know that, you know, a lot of people can look at me and see someone that they can relate to in a lot of different cultures. It’s pretty cool to have that. To know that people of all ages, of all races, can look to me and see someone that they can aspire to be and it’s just a blessing to be in that position.