When you look at Mike McGlinchey today—a massive, $87 million cornerstone for the Denver Broncos—it is easy to forget he wasn't always the "can't-miss" tackle prospect. Honestly, his path to becoming a South Bend legend was anything but a straight line. People see the 6-foot-8 frame and the first-round pedigree and assume he was born to dominate the edge at Notre Dame.
But back in Warrington, Pennsylvania, he was just a skinny-ish tight end.
Well, "skinny" is relative when you're 6-foot-7, but he wasn't the 315-pound wrecking ball he eventually became. He actually thought he’d be a basketball player. It wasn't until a random trip to a Boston College camp with his cousin John—the family is basically a football factory, by the way—that he realized his future involved a lot more dirt and a lot more pancakes.
Choosing Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame highlights isn't just about watching a big guy push people around. It’s about a specific era of Irish football where the offensive line became the identity of the entire program. He didn't just play there; he defined what a Notre Dame captain was supposed to look like during the Brian Kelly years.
The Redshirt Year and the Slow Burn
Most blue-chip recruits want to play immediately. McGlinchey? He sat.
In 2013, he took a redshirt year. He spent that time in the weight room and on the scout team, basically getting his head kicked in by older guys so he could learn the technique required to survive the independent schedule. It’s a lost art, really. Most kids hit the portal if they aren't starting by October of their freshman year. McGlinchey waited.
By 2014, he was a "special teams guy" for most of the season.
He didn't actually get his first start until the very end of the year in the Music City Bowl against LSU. Think about that pressure. Your first start is against a SEC defense known for producing NFL defensive ends. Notre Dame won 31-28, and McGlinchey proved he belonged. That game was the "lightbulb" moment.
Becoming the Standard at Tackle
The 2015 season was when things got real. McGlinchey started all 13 games at right tackle, and the Irish offense was a juggernaut. They averaged 5.63 yards per carry, which was a modern school record at the time.
💡 You might also like: Cal Bears Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Slate
He wasn't the "blindside" protector yet, but he was the hammer.
One of the coolest things about that year? He was part of the unit that helped Josh Adams rip off a 98-yard touchdown run against Wake Forest. That’s still the longest play from scrimmage in the history of the school. You don't get a 98-yard run without a tackle sealing the edge perfectly.
Moving to the Left Side
In 2016, the coaching staff moved him to left tackle. This is usually where people start overanalyzing footwork and "kick slides." McGlinchey handled it, but the team struggled, finished 4-8, and things looked shaky in South Bend.
Most guys with his draft stock would have bailed for the NFL right then.
McGlinchey didn't. He came back for his fifth year in 2017. He wanted to fix the culture. He was a two-time captain, something only a handful of players in the history of the university can claim. That 2017 season was his masterpiece. He was a Consensus All-American, and he led a line that won the Joe Moore Award, given to the best unit in the country.
The Connection to Matt Ryan and Philly Roots
If the name McGlinchey sounds familiar beyond the golden helmet, it’s probably because of his cousin.
Yes, he’s the first cousin of former NFL MVP Matt Ryan. Their mothers are sisters. In Philly, the McGlinchey/Ryan clan is legendary. Mike grew up as the oldest of six kids and was one of thirty—yes, thirty—grandchildren on his mother's side.
Imagine those Thanksgiving touch football games.
👉 See also: The Augusta Masters T Shirt: Why Most People Get It Wrong
He often jokes that he is the only "non-skilled" player in the family. While his cousins were throwing touchdowns or catching them, he was the guy making sure they didn't get hit. It’s a blue-collar mentality that he carried from the William Penn Charter School straight to Indiana.
What the Stats Don't Tell You
If you just look at a box score, you won't see Mike McGlinchey's name. Offensive linemen are invisible until they hold someone or give up a sack. But at Notre Dame, his impact was measured in "culture."
- Starts: 39 consecutive starts to finish his career.
- Versatility: Started a bowl game at right tackle, a full season at right tackle, and two seasons at left tackle.
- Leadership: One of the few two-time captains in school history.
- Academics: Graduated with a degree in Film, Television, and Theatre.
He wasn't just a "jock." He was a guy who actually cared about the "student" part of student-athlete. He spent his time analyzing film—both the football kind and the cinematic kind.
Why the 2018 Draft Was a Milestone
When the San Francisco 49ers took him 9th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, it wasn't a surprise to anyone who actually watched him. He was the first tackle off the board.
Interestingly, he was drafted just three picks after his teammate Quenton Nelson.
That was a massive statement for the Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame legacy. It proved that South Bend was "O-Line U." Having two guys from the same line go in the top ten is basically unheard of. It validated everything Harry Hiestand (the O-line coach) had been preaching.
The Reality of His Legacy
Is McGlinchey the greatest tackle in Notre Dame history? That’s a tough debate. You’ve got guys like Zack Martin and Ronnie Stanley in the conversation.
📖 Related: Aaron Hernandez: Why the Tight End's Story Still Haunts Us Today
But McGlinchey was the emotional heartbeat of the program during a massive pivot point. He stayed when things were bad in 2016 and made them great in 2017. He turned himself from a basketball-loving kid into a refined technician who could handle the fastest edge rushers in the nation.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Linemen:
- Watch the 2017 LSU game: If you want to see a clinic on run blocking, go back and watch McGlinchey's tape from his final college games.
- Value the "Wait": McGlinchey’s success proves that redshirting isn't a "failure." It’s a developmental tool that most successful NFL linemen used.
- Leadership over Stats: If you're an athlete, notice how he is remembered more for being a two-time captain than for any specific block.
- Follow his Pro Career: He’s now a veteran leader for the Broncos. Watching how his technique evolved from his Notre Dame days to the NFL is a great way to learn the nuances of the position.
Mike McGlinchey basically proved that you can be a giant, a film major, a leader, and a first-round pick all at once. He didn't just play for the Irish; he set the bar for every tackle who has walked into that locker room since.