Marcus Freeman comments on the NFL connections of Notre Dame football’s players.
As Notre Dame football built its lead during last week’s 66-7 rout of Purdue, the number of defensive players with NFL connections also grew.
Alongside nose tackle Howard Cross III and cornerback Benjamin Morrison—whose fathers played for the New York Giants and Washington, respectively—four newcomers highlighted their lineage through impressive performances.
Jordan Clark, the starting nickelback and an Arizona State grad transfer, and RJ Oben, a Duke transfer playing defensive end, have fathers who suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Giants. Additionally, two freshmen with Hall of Fame fathers made an impact: defensive end Bryce Young (son of Bryant) and safety Kennedy Urlacher (son of Brian), both logging over 20 defensive snaps and significant time on special teams.
“We weren’t surprised at all by their performance,” said Marty Biagi, Notre Dame’s special teams coordinator and safeties coach. “The genetics play a role, and it shows.”
On the offensive side, Rocco Spindler (whose dad Marc played for the Lions) returned to right guard due to injury, while freshman wide receiver Micah Gilbert took 16 offensive snaps. Gilbert’s brother Mark has been on several NFL rosters, including the Lions, and his uncle Sean Gilbert and cousin Darrelle Revis are both NFL stars.
After such a dominating performance, one might think head coach Marcus Freeman was flooded with texts of appreciation from players he admired growing up.
Not quite.
“Every once in a while, I might hear from them,” said Freeman, a fifth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2009. “You tend to have a different relationship with NFL fathers because they understand the game.”
Unlike those whose fathers had unfulfilled dreams, NFL dads often view the game through a team-oriented lens.
“They appreciate team success rather than focusing on individual achievements,” Freeman noted. “They text you after both good and bad games, but the tone is usually more measured.”
“Your phone tends to be quieter after tough games,” he added. “Those NFL dads get it. It’s refreshing.”
Former Notre Dame All-America left tackle Joe Alt, the fifth overall pick in last spring’s NFL draft, also has an NFL father, John. This trend isn’t new at Notre Dame and continues to thrive.
The 2025 recruiting class includes commitments from the sons of Jerome Bettis (Jerome Jr.) and Plaxico Burress (Elijah), both wide receivers.
“It reflects our recruiting strategy,” Freeman said. “It shows the value that NFL players see in Notre Dame, both in terms of the football program and the education. It’s a testament to this university.”
