Notre Dame football could be locking in on yet another Irish legacy, this time in the 2027 recruiting class
Don't look now, but there is another Notre Dame legacy on the recruiting board for the Irish staff. This time it is in the 2027 recruiting class, where Green Bay (Wisc.) Notre Dame Academy defensive lineman Richie Flanigan is an early name to know for the fan base. That is a last name that will ring […]
Don't look now, but there is another Notre Dame legacy on the recruiting board for the Irish staff. This time it is in the 2027 recruiting class, where Green Bay (Wisc.) Notre Dame Academy defensive lineman Richie Flanigan is an early name to know for the fan base. That is a last name that will ring a lot of bells, both for current and past fans.
For younger fans, Notre Dame signed Richie's older brother James Flanigan in the 2025 recruiting class. The 6-4.5, 235-pound tight end was ranked as the No. 126 overall player, No. 6 tight end, and No. 1 player in the state of Wisconsin on the 247Sports Composite ranking. Flanigan opted for the Irish over offers from Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Missouri, Louisville, Stanford, Minnesota, and Illinois.
Their father is Jim Flanigan, who played defensive line for Notre Dame in the early 1990s. He was selected in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Flanigan spent his first season with the Bears, followed by one year each with the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Flanigan finished his ten-year NFL career with 342 total tackles, 46 sacks, seven fumble recoveries, one interception, and also hauled in three touchdown receptions. He was also named as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2000.
It is early in the recruiting process for Richie, who has received offers from Duke, Wisconsin, and Illinois so far. The 6-3.5 and 265-pound defensive lineman plays a lot on the edge right now, but may project better inside long term. Flanigan has the frame to continue packing on good weight.
The Fighting Irish already have Bryce Young in the defensive line room, whose father Bryant Young is one of the best players to play at Notre Dame. Bryant Young played right next to Flanigan during his Irish career, and it'll be interesting to see if we see a blast from the past once the 2027 recruiting class is completed in a couple of years.
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