GREEN BAY — Three generations of football.
On Friday in Madison, a father and his two sons will compete for the state championship, continuing a tradition started by their Super Bowl-winning grandfather.
“It was one of the best years of my life in terms of being able to spend a lot of time with the kids, pass on my knowledge to them and be successful on the field” – Jim Flanigan Jr, former NFL player and current football coach at Notre Dame Academy, he said.
The Flanigan family says their time on the gridiron is special. James, a senior quarterback who plays tight end and defensive end, has blossomed into a star. His brother, Richie, a sophomore, made his presence felt on the Tritons’ D-line, and their father, Jim Flanigan Jr. is the D-line coach.
JOHN MILLER / NBC 26
“It was something I had dreamed about since eighth and seventh grade,” Richie said.
“It’s really special,” James added. “I love my brother and I love playing on the D-line with him. It’s just an experience I’ll never have again. (I’m) just savoring it, having a great season together and just having fun.
“It’s a great honor,” their father said. “It’s a real thrill for me as a father to be able to coach both of my boys and be a part of this program.”
Football is in his blood. Jim Flanigan Jr. he shined at Southern Door High School and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before embarking on a 10-year NFL career. Their grandfather, Jim Flanigan Sr., won Super Bowl II with the Packers.
MIKE ROEMER/CONTRIBUTORS
“It brings back a lot of memories and I think the best thing about it is that I can use what I learned earlier in my career,” Jim said. “And I can pass this knowledge on to our children.”
Flanigan Jr. he said he never set any expectations for his children when it came to sports.
“I knew from an early age that both James and Richie would be good athletes,” he said. “And I think it’s important to let them find their own way, help them lead, but not put pressure on them or force them to do anything.
“Just having the freedom to explore other sports and grow me as an athlete had a huge impact on my development,” James said. “I played hockey, soccer and lacrosse when I was little – just developing overall athleticism and not having any pressure really helped.”
The former NFL star says it gives him the same freedom his dad gave him.
Of course, having a dad who played in the NFL helps.
“Obviously he has a really high football IQ, so he coaches me on the d-line, he helped me a lot,” James said. “Just understand what the line, the o-line, they’re trying to do.”
“Just acrobatics and blitzes, just a general understanding of defense, and it all just develops athleticism like he did when he was a kid,” James continued. “I do a lot of sports, and this has a big impact on football.”
James and Richie, however, said it was not the physical traits their father taught them on the pitch, but the mental ones that were most significant to their success.
“It’s really important because you know everyone makes mistakes, even the best players,” Richie said. “The better players forget about it and focus on the next game.”
James will follow in his father’s footsteps as he prepares to play for the Fighting Irish next season.
“The whole recruiting process was hands-off, you can do whatever you want,” James said of what his father thought when he saw his commitment to his alma mater. “After the USC game, when I said I wanted to commit, I could tell he was excited.”
“I’m very proud of James and that comes with pressure. I really wanted with all my heart to choose the school that was best for him,” Jim said.
James Flanigan
But first, they have a state title to win. just like Jim Flanigan Jr. did. at Southern Door in 1989 with his father and brother Brian, who later played for the Badgers.
“It’s just part of the legacy. It would just be a huge accomplishment for us and the entire program,” Jim Flanigan Jr. said.
Notre Dame will face Catholic Memorial for the WIAA Division 3 state title on Friday at 10 a.m
