A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes a core engine assembly including a compressor section communicating air to a combustor section where the air is mixed with fuel and ignited to generate a high-energy gas flow that is expanded through a turbine section. The turbine section is coupled to drive the compressor section. A free turbine is configured to be driven by gas flow from the core engine. A propulsor section aft of the core engine and is driven by the free turbine. An exhaust duct routes exhaust gases from the core engine to the free turbine. The free turbine is disposed aft of the propulsor section and the exhaust duct includes an outlet aft of the propulsor section communicating gas flow to drive the free turbine. An aircraft is also disclosed.