Gold Helmets, Golden Bloodlines - Why the Sons of NFL Legends Keep Choosing Notre Dame
- Connor Regan
- Jul 21
- 9 min read
For generations, Notre Dame has built its brand on a rich history, deep tradition, and on field success. But, over the last few years, something has changed. South Bend has quickly become a premier destination for the sons of NFL stars - and that’s no accident.
A few famous names here and there are relatively common throughout college football, but Notre Dame has taken things to a whole new level.
The Freeman Era Begins
Following the departure of Brian Kelly for LSU, rising head coach Marcus Freeman had his work cut out for him. Not only was he a first-time head coach, but he was also taking over a premier blue-chip college football program that hadn’t been able to get over that hump from tier one competitor to true contender.
A New Kind of Recruiting
While a multitude of strategies have brought the Irish to this moment, the most striking progression has been in their new recruiting approach. Due to his experience as an elite college football player and a stint as a pro with one of the best teams in the game, Freeman has been able to recruit at a level that Brian Kelly simply couldn’t. Kelly was known for his CEO type approach to Notre Dame‘s program during his time, and Freeman couldn’t be farther from that.
Kelly recruited primarily based on results, rankings, and professionalism, while Freeman completely flipped this mentality on its head. This new recruiting strategy began during his single season as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. Freeman focused on developing a genuine connection with potential recruits, but more importantly, with their families. Instead of selling these young men on the Notre Dame brand alone, Freeman quickly understood that the brand sells itself, and the real linchpin was gaining their trust.
Freeman’s experience as a player has earned him a level of authenticity with potential recruits that the program was previously lacking. This, combined with his personal and genuine approach, made developing trust easier and happen faster.
The Talent
The numbers back it up, but the names tell the real story. Over the last few seasons, Notre Dame has quietly assembled one of the most impressive collections of NFL pedigree in all of college football. These legacy athletes cover recent grads and transfers, current players, and incoming prospects. Here’s a look at the growing list of legacy athletes who have chosen to don the gold helmet:
A. Current Roster
Bryce Young – DL
Son of Bryant Young (DL, 49ers, HOF)
CJ Carr – QB
Grandson of Lloyd Carr (Michigan coach)
Jerome Bettis Jr. – WR
Son of Jerome Bettis (RB, Steelers, HOF, ND alum)
Elijah Burress – WR
Son of Plaxico Burress (WR Steelers/Giants)
James Flanigan – TE
Son of Jim Flanigan (DT, Bears/ND)
B. 2026 Commitments
Thomas Davis Jr. – LB
Son of Thomas Davis Sr. (Panthers LB, 3x Pro Bowler) (UGA)
Kaydon Finley – WR
Son of Jermichael Finley (Packers TE, Super Bowl winner) (Texas)
Devin Fitzgerald – WR
Son of Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals WR, 2nd all-time in yards) (Pitt)
C. Recent Players
Jordan Clark – DB (Graduated)
Son of Ryan Clark (Steelers/ ESPN Analyst)
RJ Oben – DL (Graduated)
Son of Roman Oben (Giants OT)
Joe Alt – OL (Graduated)
Son of John Alt (Chiefs)
Benjamin Morrison – CB (Graduated)
Son of Darryl Morrison (DB, Washington)
Howard Cross III – DL (Graduated)
Son of Howard Cross (Giants TE)
Kennedy Urlacher – LB (Transferred to USC)
Son of Brian Urlacher (Bears LB, HOF)
Rocco Spindler – OL (Transferred)
Son of Marc Spindler (Lions/Jets DL)
NFL Family Pitch
Every blue-chip college football program sells recruits on their path to the NFL, but Freeman and his staff have taken a different approach. This authenticity and alternative recruiting strategy resonates with former NFL players and their spouses in a way that sets them apart from the rest. You can’t fool a professional football player father with buzzwords and boilerplate pitches – they know what real, elite football environments are like, and who actually talks the talk and walks the walk. Freeman instead chooses to let the brand speak for itself and sell the parts of Notre Dame that set them apart:
Development as a man
A deep religious tradition and grounding
A brotherhood culture in the locker room
A modern, player-centric approach to development
When these young men and their families sit across from Freeman and his staff, they can see his authenticity and personal touch, while knowing he fully understands the highs and lows of the NFL and how to help their son achieve his goals.
Leaning Into Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s positioning as a premier independent football program, a Catholic university, and an elite academic institution makes it a true one-of-a-kind, but historically, it hasn’t always been an asset. During his time in South Bend, Brian Kelly routinely tried to underplay what many saw as “obstacles” for the Irish, but Freeman has leaned into them. Instead of apologizing for Notre Dame’s uniqueness, Freeman has used it as a recruiting tool, reframing the University as a place where young men can grow into complete people, be held to a higher standard, and leave prepared not just for the NFL but for life.
Yes, this approach may shrink Notre Dame’s recruiting pool, but Freeman and his staff view these standards as beneficial criteria rather than drawbacks. When you believe what you’re selling, athletes can feel it. When you’re able to convince an NFL player that his son will be a part of a program that mirrors the structure, rigor, and discipline of a pro locker room, you get a level of buy-in that supersedes the individual and incorporates the family.
This family focus extends to the team, emphasizing Notre Dame’s collective approach over an individual mentality.
Freeman’s Age Advantage
When Freeman was initially hired, many were concerned about his age (35) and whether he was prepared to lead his players from boys to men. Thankfully, the small age gap has seemingly played to Freeman’s advantage, enabling him to relate better to his young players while sharing their youthful energy and a modern approach to a changing football landscape. He speaks their language: social media, branding, NIL strategy, and building your own name while honoring your family’s legacy.
Instead of allowing these NFL sons to live in the shadows of their fathers, Freeman wants them to break the mold and become their own player—but more importantly, their own man. He spends equal time imparting the value of Notre Dame’s culture to players’ families, showing them what makes South Bend different from every other school, and how it can position their sons for success in both football and life after the game. This approach makes it easy to build buy-in from former Irish legends like Jerome Bettis and impresses families who don’t have Fighting Irish roots.
“They Don’t Bend Here.”
Much has been made of the potential advantage other schools might have over Notre Dame in recruiting due to its academic requirements. Freeman talked about the fact that it takes a “certain type of kid” to play for the Irish, and when questioned about the possibility of losing a 5-star prospect because he “isn’t Notre Dame material,” Freeman retorted:
“You gotta be able to say, ‘No,’ because that kid won’t have success here and you’re doing him a disservice,” Freeman said. “They don’t bend here. You gotta go to class, you gotta study, and they’re gonna hold you to these high academic expectations. We have to understand that.”
That’s the exact kind of mentality Freeman and these NFL father’s are looking for: “They Don’t Bend Here” means there is no shortcut, there are no breaks — especially for son’s with a famous dad, and that kind of higher standard and regimented approach will keep heads from getting too big, and maintain focus.
NFL Development
It’s no secret that Notre Dame has been turning out legitimate NFL prospects for decades, but things have changed during Freeman’s tenure. In just the last three seasons, Notre Dame has produced 16 NFL draft picks. For context, in Brian Kelly’s first three years, his teams produced just 11 draftees.
The Irish have made a name for themselves, particularly along the offensive line, in the defensive secondary, and at tight end, demonstrating not only the ability to elevate their players to the next level but also elite development at specific positions. This track record showcases both Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame’s ability to prepare their young men for a successful run at the professional level, as well as a recent upturn in that production.
Life Beyond Football
Notre Dame’s academic rigor has been one of its greatest selling points for decades. This collegiate development, paired with Notre Dame’s robust alumni network, sets up former players for success regardless of their circumstances.
Freeman emphasizes that not all players will reach the NFL, and every member of the Fighting Irish team needs to be prepared for a life beyond football. NFL parents know this better than anyone else—and what better person to convey that message than Marcus Freeman, living proof that life after football can still see the very highest of success.
Notre Dame prepares their student-athletes for life after the game, and their continued success is the best advertisement possible. It says something that professional football families see a path to both football and life success through Notre Dame, viewing the university as both an academic powerhouse and a pro-level football program that can prepare them for either side of life’s coin flip.
Culture
Notre Dame’s culture is as much about academics as it is football, as much about elite professional athletes as it is about business and world leaders. NFL parents have seen what it takes to get to that level, and they trust Notre Dame with their sons’ futures. The Fighting Irish build more than just athletes— they make men. They build leaders, on and off the field.
The Marcus Freeman Effect
The Marcus Freeman effect is the primary driver of this NFL legacy pipeline. His youthful energy, NFL experience, and personal approach have changed everything.
The results speak for themselves. Since taking over the head coaching job, Marcus Freeman has gone 33–10 with three College Football Playoff wins and a national championship appearance in his third year. His early success drew attention from NFL teams, including the Bears, and his most recent postseason run elevated Notre Dame’s level of prestige to heights it hadn’t seen in more than a decade.
His experience, track record, and family-first recruiting approach makes him easy for former NFL players to trust. He commands respect and approaches all aspects of the job with professionalism, while remaining approachable. Instead of a figurehead, he’s a presence. He pushes a team-first culture, emphasizing character, personal development, and education.
Facility Upgrades
While not directly attributed to Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has stepped up its facility footprint.
In April 2024, the University broke ground on a new state-of-the-art football facility with over 150,000 sq ft of advanced training and equipment rooms, an augmented reality walk-through space, sports medicine recovery rooms, and player nutritional facilities. Additionally, the space will feature academic support areas for athletes, professional-level weight training facilities, media innovation spaces equipped with video, recording, and photo studios, an expanded locker room, and a two-level auditorium that can accommodate the entire team.
The new facility will be named the Jack and Kathy Shields Family Hall and will be roughly 50% larger than Notre Dame’s current football facility, “The Gug.” The price tag has not been revealed, but it’s expected to exceed $100 million.
Branding & National Schedule
Notre Dame’s independent schedule allows them to play whoever, and wherever, from East Coast to West Coast, and at least six home games on national television per year. That’s the kind of free publicity and high visibility that top collegiate athletes are looking for—and NFL families know how important that is.
This independent identity positions the Irish as one of college football’s few “national” programs—not regionally confined—and one of the most televised teams in the sport.
The Timing
Several factors contribute to Notre Dame’s recent influx of NFL legacy athletes, with the most obvious being their recent success. Notre Dame’s 2025 National Championship appearance did wonders for them on the recruiting trail, despite not winning the title.
The Irish finished with the 12th-best recruiting class in 2025 but currently sit at #3 overall in 2026 with 26 commits, including one 5-star recruit and 18 4-star recruits. Just a single successful season pushed the Irish up 9 spots in recruiting rankings – imagine what a few years with similar success would do.
The Results
In the end, it’s not just the wins, the facilities, or the legacy of the Golden Dome drawing these families in—it’s the culture. It’s the way Marcus Freeman connects. It’s what Notre Dame stands for. That’s why, year after year, more and more NFL greats are trusting their sons to South Bend—not to follow in their footsteps, but to forge their own. The result? A roster full of names that echo across NFL history, now building their own legacy in blue and gold.
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