For much of the college football season, Notre Dame has showcased it has one of the top rosters in the country — if not the best.

It's one of several ingredients for the larger recipe that has led the Irish to the opportunity that presents themselves Monday in the College Football Playoff championship game against No. 8 Ohio State: end their 33-year national championship drought.

And if the casual college football fan scrolls down Notre Dame's depth chart in the lead-up to Monday night's kickoff, one will come across several last names that might ring a bell.

That includes freshman safety Kennedy Urlacher.

Is Kennedy Urlacher related to Brian Urlacher?

Yes, Kennedy Urlacher is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Brian Urlacher is one of the best linebackers to have played in the NFL, spending his entire 13-year NFL career with the Chicago Bears . In 182 career games with the Bears , Brian Urlacher finished with 1,361 total tackles, 90 broken-up passes and 41.5 sacks and 22 interceptions for 324 yards. He also recorded 11 forced fumbles and 16 fumble recoveries.

Across his career in the NFL, Brian Urlacher finished as a eight-time Pro Bowl and five-time All-Pro first team selection. He also won the NFL's defensive rookie of the year in 2000 and defensive most valuable player in 2005.

Being the son of a Hall of Famer can certainly create an a good amount of pressure and expectations on the shoulder for someone like Kennedy Urlacher. But as previously reported by South Bend Tribune's Austin Houge, he said he tries to ignore all of that and focus on what is in front of him.

"Honestly, I just kind of leave the outside noise outside and just focus on myself and do what I do," Kennedy Urlacher said in February 2024.

Kennedy Urlacher eligibility

Kennedy Urlacher is listed as a freshman on Notre Dame's official roster and is in his first college football season. Following the conclusion of the 2024 college football season at the CFP championship game, he will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Kennedy Urlacher stats

Urlacher's best game this season for the Irish came in Week 1 at Purdue, when the 5-foot-11 safety finished with three total tackles and a broken-up pass in Notre Dame's 66-7 romp against the Boilermakers .

Kennedy Urlacher 247Sports

Kennedy Urlacher wasn't a highly touted recruit out of Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona. His 247Sports' Composite rankings profile had listed him as a three-star recruit and the No. 61 ranked safety in the 2024 recruiting class. He was also the No. 14 prospect in the state of Arizona.