Name, Image, and Likeness has changed college football, and Notre Dame has done a fantastic job adjusting to this new era and flourishing.
The Irish have put together some massive recruiting classes, along with brand new facilities, with alumni wondering what they could have done during these times. Former Notre Dame star quarterback Brady Quinn was recently asked just that on The Joel Klatt Show, and brought up his recruitment, and why he chose the Irish.
It wasn’t just about football for him, as he decided that Ohio State wasn’t the place for him, as he said “I chose Notre Dame back then for more than the football aspect of it, and even just our coach. The academic side of it, the spiritual side of it. Those are all the things, it was the right
fit for me.”
Quinn would go on to say that he didn’t really contemplate transferring from Notre Dame, a conversation ensured with his father due to having a redshirt year available to sit out a year. It clearly didn’t go far. However, in this NIL era, it might have been a different story. He’d say “money wasn’t a part of that discussion. If it was today’s day, I’m a human, there’s no way I’m going to lie to you guys wouldn’t have contemplated or potentially looked at that.”
The stark difference in eras shows how significant being able to compensate players is making it difficult to keep players. Notre Dame has done a great job in this aspect, and if Quinn was on an NIL team, there’s no doubt the two sides would work things out for his return.
Transfer portal. NIL. Realignment. Would @Brady_Quinn have stayed at Notre Dame in today's CFB landscape? pic.twitter.com/Ivt52Cd7nF
— The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football on FOX Pod (@JoelKlattShow) August 19, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Brady Quinn answers if he would leave Notre Dame if he had NIL
