Historically speaking, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are one of the most popular college football programs in the country. The list of former Irish players who have impacted the record books, both the NCAA records as well as Notre Dame’s own record books, is long and distinguished.
The value of an education at an institution like Notre Dame, as well as the resources for developing the players’ talent, is attractive to former NFL stars. As such, a number of former NFL players have sons who either are currently on the Notre Dame roster, or who have committed to playing for Notre Dame in 2026.
Last year’s National Championship runner-up squad included current rostered players Bryce Young; son of Bryant Young, James Flanigan; son of Jim Flanigan, Jordan Clark, son of Ryan Clark; and Kennedy Urlacher, son of Brian Urlacher. Clark has exhausted his eligibility, and Urlacher transferred to USC in the offseason.
Two newcomers in 2025 are Jerome Bettis, Jr. and Elijah Burress, sons of former Pittsburgh Steelers teammates Jerome Bettis and Plaxico Burress. Of the dads, Bettis played his college ball at Notre Dame, Burress was a Michigan State Spartan.
Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class now includes:
🏈WR Devin Fitzgerald, son of Larry Fitzgerald.
🏈OLB Thomas Davis Jr., son of Thomas Davis.
🏈WR Kaydon Finley, son of Jermichael Finley.
📸 @ByEliLederman pic.twitter.com/3cHdS3xCK5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 6, 2025
The trend of former NFL stars sending their sons to Notre Dame is catching on, as the Irish have landed commitments from three players for the class of 2026 whose dads played in the NFL. The first was linebacker Thomas Davis Jr.; his dad Thomas Davis Sr., played 15 seasons in the NFL.
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Then, wide receiver Kaydon Finley committed to the Irish on July 4. Kaydon is the son of former Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley. Jermichael played six seasons in the NFL, all with the Packers.
What a week for @LarryFitzgerald‼️
✔️NFL Record (catches with one team)
✔️Walter Camp Alumni Award
✔️15th Anniversary, Heisman Finalist #TBT | Pitt 37, Texas A&M 26 | 9/27/03
Fitzgerald: 7 catches, 135 yards, 3 TDsRT to give the 🐐 a #ProBowlVote! #H2P pic.twitter.com/gDX5LQu0A7
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) December 13, 2018
The last of the commitments came on July 5, when wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald announced he would be attending Notre Dame. Devin’s dad, Larry Fitzgerald, is arguably one of the best wide receivers in both college football and NFL history.
The trust these former NFL stars have in the Notre Dame program is a testament to head coach Marcus Freeman. In just his third season manning the Irish sideline, Freeman led Notre Dame to three College Football Playoff wins before losing to Ohio State in the National Championship Game.
With that kind of success, it’s easy to see why these players are part of, or joining, the Notre Dame program. The development of the Irish players under Freeman is also an attraction. Sixteen Notre Dame players have been selected in the last three NFL drafts. Word of mouth should lead to more commitments from sons of former NFL players.
But according to Freeman, football development is not the only attraction. The connections made and the quality of the education received at Notre Dame are just as valuable as the on-field development.
Asked Marcus Freeman why so many NFL players send their sons to play for him at Notre Dame.
His answer highlighted everything that's STILL right with CFB.https://t.co/X018K7aWPH pic.twitter.com/utw3GIHkaM
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) April 16, 2025
Freeman spoke with JD Pickell of On3 Sports in April and had this to say when asked about the number of players who have dads that played in the NFL.
“You look at Burress and Urlacher and some of those guys and see the value of this university,” Freeman said. “The opportunity to develop as a football player, as well here as anywhere else in the country, but also the opportunity to get a degree that will truly take care of you beyond the game of football. I think a lot of those guys that have played in college and played in the NFL understand the value of this university, not only its football program, but the network and the people that you’re in contact with every day here at a place like this.”
Freeman went on to express that he is humbled by the choice that the former NFL stars made in sending their sons to Notre Dame.
“For those guys to trust the future of their sons with our football program is humbling, it means the world. But we’ve got to continue to make sure that we’re selling the right product not only just the development as a football player but the holistic approach to you as a human and you as a student.”
