The son of former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley makes college football commitment. Does he choose his dad's school?

The son of former Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley has been following in his dad’s footsteps as a star pass catcher on the gridiron.

But he’s set to carve out his own path in college.

Kaydon announced his commitment to play at Notre Dame as part of a star-studded Class of 2026, choosing the Irish over Texas, where Jermichael played two decades ago before being drafted by the Packers, as well as Texas A&M and Arizona State.

The senior-to-be at powerhouse Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas, hosted a selection party at his parents’ house over the Fourth of July holiday weekend with all his family and friends there to watch him make his college choice.

With hats representing the schools on top of a table, Kaydon first picked up Texas, teasing those in attendance, before throwing it to the ground. A beaming Kaydon then put on the Notre Dame hat with yellow and blue confetti — the Irish’s colors — raining down as pictures of him wearing Irish gear were displayed on the wall.

“New chapter. Same mission. Locked in and ready! This is just the beginning,” Kaydon wrote on Instagram alongside the video.

Kaydon, a four-star recruit, later had a classy message to the schools he didn’t select.

For Texas, he wrote: “I have the utmost respect for Coach (Steve) Sarkisian and his staff. UT has always been a special place for me and my family. … With guys like Arch Manning (redshirt sophomore quarterback and nephew of former NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning) and Dia Bell (five-star quarterback recruit in 2026) leading the way, Texas is set up for big success and I wish them nothing but the best.”

Kaydon added that “God led me to Notre Dame to compete under Coach (Marcus) Freeman. His plan for me is greater than my own and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

The Irish finished as the national title runners-up in 2024.

Notre Dame Class of 2026 recruiting

Kaydon Finley is part of a 2026 recruiting class at Notre Dame that also includes the son of Larry Fitzgerald and son of Thomas Davis Sr., both former NFL stars.

Fitzgerald is one of the greatest wide receivers of this generation. He played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2004-2020 and made 11 Pro Bowls, while leading the NFL in receptions twice and receiving touchdowns twice. Thomas Davis played 14 of his 16 years in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and was a three-time Pro Bowler. He finished his career in 2020.

Notre Dame has the fourth-ranked recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. Kaydon is ranked 114th overall in the Class of 2026, according to ESPN.

Jermichael Finley reacts to son’s commitment to Notre Dame

A couple weeks ago, Jermichael Finley posted a photo on his Instagram that showed him putting a Texas Longhorns helmet on his son’s head. It was Kaydon’s official visit to Texas as he was still deciding on schools.

“Run it back!” Jermichael wrote on June 22. “New era, same energy. Legacy stays loud. Proud dad.”

Would it be like father, like son in the burnt orange?

It wasn’t meant to be.

Jermichael, nonetheless, couldn’t have been a prouder dad over his son’s success.

“Reflecting on an epic weekend and the incredible journey Kaydon has been on,” Jermichael wrote on Instagram with a family photo where Kaydon was decked out in an Irish jersey and Notre Dame title belt. “This process has been nothing short of amazing, and words can’t fully express how proud we are of him. His grit, passion, and relentless drive have shaped every step toward this next chapter.

“This moment is the result of all of it, and it’s only the beginning. His love of the game is unmatched and will keep fueling what’s next. We’ve got your back every step of the way! Go Irish”

Jermichael Finely, 38, played at Texas from 2005-07. In his first year at Texas, a season in which he redshirted, the Longhorns won the BCS national championship. Texas went 10-3 in both his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons and won two more bowl games. He broke tight end records throughout his time at Texas.

Finley was a third-round pick of the Packers in 2008. Finley was part of the Packers’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2010, though he didn’t play in the game after he was put on season-ending injured reserve following a knee injury in October.

Then, during the 2013 season, his once promising career came to a heartbreaking end. He suffered a spinal cord contusion after he collided helmet to helmet with a defender in a game.

At 28 years old in 2015, he officially retired two years after playing his final game with the Packers.

“Forever grateful to have had the opportunity to play for the best organization, w/ the best coaching staff in the National Football League,” Finley tweeted Oct. 19, 2015. “I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to catch ball on Sundays from the greatest quarterback #12 (Aaron Rodgers) along side the best teammates. To the Green Bay Packer Fans: Thank you for 6 unbelievable years & unforgettable memories. You guys made my dreams come true. Go Pack Go.”

He tweeted the next day that he was a “Packer 4 Life.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley’s son commits to Notre Dame

The son of former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley makes college football commitment. Does he choose his dad’s school?

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