Kennedy Urlacher, NFL Legend Brian Urlacher's Son, Has Transferred To Longtime Rival

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Apr 19, 2025 10:57 PM ET

For over a decade, Brian Urlacher was one of the most feared linebackers in the NFL and his on-field dominance earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His son is trying to carve out his own career in football and the next step is a big transfer from one powerhouse to another.

On Saturday, Notre Dame safety Kennedy Urlacher announced that he will be heading to the University of Southern California to join Lincoln Riley's USC Trojans. He will have three years of college football eligibility remaining.

"BREAKING: Notre Dame transfer Safety Kennedy Urlacher has Committed to USC, he tells @on3sports," On3 recruiting insider Hayes Fawcett wrote on X. "The 5’11 200 S will have 3 years of eligibility remaining / He’s the Son of NFL Hall of Fame LB Brian Urlacher."

BREAKING: Notre Dame transfer Safety Kennedy Urlacher has Committed to USC, he tells @on3sports

The 5’11 200 S will have 3 years of eligibility remaining

He’s the Son of NFL Hall of Fame LB Brian Urlacherhttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/AmHes99hGk
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 19, 2025

Coming out of high school in 2024, Urlacher was a three-star prospect and the No. 641 recruit in the class, per 247Sports. He was the No. 61 safety in the country and the No. 14 player from the state of Arizona.

As a freshman in 2024, Urlacher wound up playing 14 games for the Fighting Irish, finishing the year with 12 tackles, one pass defended and one fumble recovery. He played in all four of their postseason games and their win over the Trojans at the end of the regular season.

But on April 16, Urlacher decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

Now he's a Trojan.

Urlacher joins a USC team that once again underachieved in a big way. Over the past two seasons the team has gone just 15-11, barely achieving bowl eligibility despite some of the best recruiting on the West Coast.

His father managed to enjoy an incredible career at New Mexico. Surely Kennedy can find a way to make it work in sunny Southern California.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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