GREEN BAY, Wis. — The City of Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach made the proclamation that Dec. 11, 2024 would be known as “Notre Dame Academy Varsity Football Day.”

Many attended the ceremony where the team was honored for its third state title in its history and an undefeated season.


What You Need To Know

  • The City of Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach made the proclamation that Dec. 11, 2024 would be known as “Notre Dame Academy Varsity Football Day”

  • Notre Dame Academy tight end James Flanigan ended his high school football career in one of the best ways possible: With a state title. Plus, James Flanigan officially signed his letter of intent to join the University of Notre Dame and the legendary Fighting Irish football program next fall

  • James Flanigan is following in his father’s footsteps

  • Jim Flanigan also played football at the University of Notre Dame. He is also an assistant defensive line coach for the Notre Dame Academy Tritons. He also played defensive tackle in the NFL for a few teams, including the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears

Notre Dame Academy tight end James Flanigan ended his high school football career in one of the best ways possible: With a state title. Plus, James Flanigan officially signed his letter of intent to join the University of Notre Dame and the legendary Fighting Irish football program next fall.

He said it means a lot that he could end his senior year on a high note.  

“Coming here for four years and getting to know everybody and building up each year, getting further and further in the playoffs and then, finally, it pays off my final high school game,” he said. “It was just really special to do it.”

Notre Dame Academy tight end James Flanigan ended his high school football career in one of the best ways possible: With a state title. Plus, James Flanigan officially signed his letter of intent to join the University of Notre Dame and the legendary Fighting Irish football program next fall. (Spectrum News 1/Geno Perez)

James Flanigan is following in his father’s footsteps.

Jim Flanigan also played football at the University of Notre Dame. James Flanigan said he was conflicted about which college to attend, but ultimately, he is happy with the decision he made to wear the blue and gold.

“Obviously, they have a lot of history and tradition with my dad playing there,” James Flanigan said. “So that’s a pretty cool thing about me going there. I just know Notre Dame has such a huge brand because it’s always just been a historically good program and a really good college.”

The City of Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach made the proclamation that Dec. 11, 2024 would be known as “Notre Dame Academy Varsity Football Day.” Many attended the ceremony where the team was honored for its third state title in its history and an undefeated season. (Spectrum News 1/Geno Perez)

Jim Flanigan is an assistant defensive line coach for the Notre Dame Academy Tritons. He also played defensive tackle in the NFL for a few teams, including the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.

Jim Flanigan said his son has worked hard to get to this point, and he is excited to see him at his old stomping grounds.  

“He’s not going there because I went there. He is going there because he wants to, because it’s a great fit for him, because Coach Freeman has done a great job of developing that team and putting them in a in a great position for the next few years,” Jim Flanigan said. “So I’m very, very excited for him and for the University of Notre Dame.”

Jim Flanigan is an assistant defensive line coach for the Notre Dame Academy Tritons. He also played defensive tackle in the NFL for a few teams, including the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. (Spectrum News 1/Geno Perez)

James Flanigan said being just over five hours from home is a good thing. It is far, but not too far from home.

He said he hopes to major in engineering and make an impact on the field his freshman year.  

 “I just want to get a good start on my career kind of get fit into the program a little bit,” James Flanigan said. “Put in a lot of hard work… So hopefully I can get on the field in some way… I’m trying to find success with Notre Dame.”