Jermichael Finley's Son Brings Determined Mindset to Notre Dame Spring Football

Freshman wide receiver Kaydon Finley aims to follow in his father's footsteps and make an impact for the Fighting Irish in 2026.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:33pm

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Kaydon Finley, the son of former Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley, has joined the Notre Dame football team and is already impressing the coaching staff with his determined mindset. Finley, a highly-touted wide receiver recruit, plans to start in the slot position for the Fighting Irish as they begin spring practices, bringing a physical and fearless playing style that he hopes will help him make an immediate impact.

Why it matters

Notre Dame is looking to bounce back after missing the College Football Playoff last season, and the addition of talented young players like Kaydon Finley could be crucial to their success. Finley's pedigree and proven production at the high school level suggest he has the potential to develop into a key contributor for the Irish offense.

The details

Finley, who was ranked as the No. 165 recruit in the nation and the No. 25 wide receiver in the 2026 class, has already caught the eye of Notre Dame's coaching staff. Wide receivers coach Mike Brown plans to start Finley in the slot position, taking advantage of the freshman's versatile skill set and physical playing style. Finley has described his game as "physical" and "fearless," saying he can excel at a variety of receiver roles, including blocking, chipping the edge, and winning 50-50 balls.

  • Kaydon Finley is set to begin spring practices with Notre Dame in 2026.

The players

Kaydon Finley

A highly-touted freshman wide receiver who is the son of former NFL tight end Jermichael Finley.

Jermichael Finley

A former tight end for the Green Bay Packers who won Super Bowl XLV.

Marcus Freeman

The head coach of the Notre Dame football team, who is looking to lead the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff in 2026.

Mike Brown

The wide receivers coach at Notre Dame, who plans to start Kaydon Finley in the slot position.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, just stay with a positive mindset, there's going to be hard days. I'm new to college, there's going to be hard days, but just remembering my family back at home, remembering my reason why I have little brothers back at home. I'm here to accomplish my dream, accomplish my goal, so just getting better each and every day, focus on my task each and every day, waking up and just remembering why I'm here is how you separate yourself in the room.”

— Kaydon Finley, Freshman Wide Receiver

“I really describe my game as physical. I'm a physical player. I can go attack the ball. I have smooth route running. I have great hands. I feel like I can go attack the ball. 50-50 balls I can get. Get open in man coverage, zone coverage, really anything. I think a big thing in my game is playing physical and fearless.”

— Kaydon Finley, Freshman Wide Receiver

What’s next

The Notre Dame coaching staff will continue to evaluate Kaydon Finley's progress throughout spring practices as they determine his role in the offense for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Kaydon Finley's determined mindset and physical playing style could make him a valuable asset for the Notre Dame offense as they look to bounce back and reach the College Football Playoff in 2026. His father's NFL pedigree and the coaching staff's high expectations suggest Finley has the potential to develop into a standout player for the Fighting Irish.