With the Notre Dame football team preparing to face the University of Miami in its season opener, head coach Marcus Freeman discussed why several sons of former National Football League players are choosing to join the Fighting Irish. The roster this year includes notable names such as David Fitzgerald, son of Larry Fitzgerald; Jerome Bettis Jr.; and Jordan Clark, whose father Ryan Clark co-hosts “The Pivot Podcast.”
Freeman addressed the recruiting dynamic during an appearance on “The Pivot Podcast,” explaining his approach to meetings with both prospective players and their parents. “I remember that meeting with them, right in front of their dads and said, ‘I failed as a coach if I can’t convince you guys that this is the right place for you.’ because you see it in your fathers and everything they’ve done athletically, but who they are as men now,” Freeman said.
He continued by sharing more about what draws these families to Notre Dame: “And the other ones is, I think everyone’s different, but I think number one, they all understand that if you’re good enough to go to the NFL, you go to Notre Dame and you’re going to be able to make the NFL, right? (…) But they also see the value in what else Notre Dame provides.”
Expanding on his recruiting strategy and how he communicates with families who have a legacy at Notre Dame or within professional football, Freeman said: “I remember having a meeting with Jerome Bettis Jr., Bryce Young, who’s Bryant Young’s son, James Flanigan, who’s on our team. (…) And I remember saying, ‘If I can’t convince you, whose father went to Notre Dame, that this is the right place for your future athletically, academically, in life, then I’ve failed as a coach.’”
Other former National Football League players whose sons have committed or played for Notre Dame include Brian Urlacher, Thomas Davis and Ike Taylor.
Notre Dame enters the new season following its recent national title game appearance and will begin play Sunday night against Miami.
