Leadership is the focus as Notre Dame begins crucial summer workouts.
As summer begins to spread its warmth across South Bend, the echoes of football still reverberate through the hallowed halls of Notre Dame. For the Fighting Irish, the months of June and July are not a respite but a crucible—a time when the foundation for fall success is laid brick by sweat-soaked brick. There are no sold-out stadiums, no national television broadcasts, and no roars from the student section. But in the weight rooms, on the practice fields, and within the meeting rooms, something just as vital is taking place: the cultivation of leadership. With a roster stocked with talent and lofty goals looming in the fall, Notre Dame enters these crucial summer workouts with one overarching theme dominating every drill, rep, and film session—leadership.
The focus on leadership is not merely a coaching slogan or a motivational tagline. It is a necessity born from the very DNA of the program. Notre Dame’s football tradition demands more than just athletic excellence. It calls for poise, accountability, and the type of internal guidance that no coaching staff, no matter how experienced or strategic, can fully instill. The Irish need players who will take ownership of the team’s direction, who will hold each other accountable, and who will lead not just in the fourth quarter of a close game, but in the unseen hours of conditioning runs, late-night film study, and team-building sessions. As head coach Marcus Freeman enters another pivotal year at the helm, he has made it abundantly clear that this summer is about more than physical preparation—it is about shaping the identity of the team through leadership.
In any collegiate program, especially one with the national spotlight and storied history of Notre Dame, leadership cannot be manufactured. It must be authentic. That authenticity begins with the players who have already walked through fire—those who have faced adversity, tasted defeat, celebrated victory, and emerged with the scars and wisdom necessary to guide others. Veterans on both sides of the ball are being called upon not simply to perform but to elevate those around them. These summer months will test not only their endurance and strength but their willingness to be vocal, vulnerable, and relentless in pursuit of excellence. Freeman and his staff have emphasized peer-to-peer accountability, urging upperclassmen to see themselves as more than teammates. They are mentors, examples, and standard-bearers.
The quarterback room, always the epicenter of leadership discussion, is no exception. With a new starter expected to take the reins, the importance of leadership from this position is amplified. The quarterback is not just a signal-caller but a cultural tone-setter. He must lead with confidence, command the respect of the huddle, and serve as an extension of the coaching staff on the field. This summer offers a golden opportunity for whoever wins the job to earn that trust—not through highlight throws, but through his daily demeanor, his approach to preparation, and his connection with teammates. Leadership in this position is not optional; it is mandatory, and the quarterbacks know that eyes are on them from sunup to sundown.
But leadership is not confined to the offense. On the defensive side, the Irish are rich with experience and hungry for dominance. Summer workouts are where this hunger must transform into unity. The captains and veteran defenders are being tasked with instilling a mindset where execution meets intensity. Whether it’s the linebackers calling out coverages or the defensive line pushing each other to embrace technique over brute force, the tone is being set by those who understand that championship defenses are built long before the first snap of the season. Every sprint, every lift, every breakdown at midfield is an opportunity for leadership to manifest itself in action and attitude.
Yet leadership isn’t always loud. It doesn’t always come in the form of speeches or chest-thumping declarations. Sometimes, the most powerful leaders are those who lead by example, who do the right thing when no one is watching, who stay after practice to help a younger player or sacrifice personal accolades for the good of the team. These “quiet leaders” are often the glue of a successful squad, and this summer is their canvas. Coaches are watching closely to see who embraces the grind, who keeps the locker room focused, and who is willing to put team above self. In a game of inches, it is often these types of leaders who make the biggest difference.
Off the field, leadership is also being shaped in the classroom and community. At a place like Notre Dame, the expectations go beyond football. The summer provides a valuable window for personal growth, for service, and for building bonds that transcend the game. The Irish coaching staff has emphasized holistic leadership—developing young men who will thrive not only between the lines but in life. That means showing up on time for meetings, making academic progress, volunteering in the community, and being ambassadors of the university’s values. Summer may be a grind, but it is also a season of transformation, and for many players, it will be where they take their biggest steps toward becoming the leaders they are meant to be.
Strength and conditioning coaches play a pivotal role during these summer months, often becoming the most visible figures in the lives of players. With NCAA restrictions limiting direct football coaching during this time, it is the strength staff that sets the tempo. They are tasked not only with sculpting bodies but with reinforcing culture. At Notre Dame, that culture is steeped in effort, discipline, and a refusal to take shortcuts. These are leadership traits, and the weight room becomes the proving ground. When players push through fatigue, when they lift each other up during tough sessions, when they sprint through the finish line instead of coasting, they are practicing leadership in its purest form.
Competition also fuels leadership development. As roles and rotations remain up for grabs, players are encouraged to compete without animosity. The idea is to push each other, not undermine each other. It’s a fine balance, but one that the best programs strike well. Summer competition—be it in agility drills, film breakdowns, or player-run practices—serves as both a motivator and a mirror. It shows who wants it most and who’s willing to help others reach their potential, even if it means less glory for themselves. That duality of drive and selflessness is at the heart of true leadership, and it’s exactly what the coaching staff wants to see take root this summer.
The locker room dynamics are equally important. In the heat of summer, when practices are grueling and days feel endless, it is easy for fatigue to breed friction. This is where leadership from within becomes essential. Veterans must be willing to diffuse tension, bridge divides, and keep the team aligned toward its ultimate goals. This emotional intelligence, often overlooked in discussions of leadership, is vital. Players who can read a room, who know when to speak up and when to listen, who can navigate the personalities and egos of a 100-man roster—these are the leaders who elevate a team’s ceiling. And summer, with its unique blend of intensity and introspection, is the ideal time for this type of leadership to emerge.
The incoming freshmen, wide-eyed and eager, are also part of this leadership equation. While they are not expected to lead just yet, they are watching closely. The habits, values, and behaviors they observe from veterans this summer will shape their approach for years to come. It is often said that a team is only as strong as its weakest link, and the way older players mentor and integrate the newcomers says volumes about the health of the program. Leadership means bringing others along, not pulling away, and this summer is rich with opportunities for that mentorship to flourish.
As the calendar advances and the countdown to fall camp begins, the emphasis on leadership will only intensify. Coaches will be evaluating not just the physical readiness of their players, but the cohesion, communication, and culture that have been built during these dog days of summer. Freeman has been vocal about wanting a player-led team—one where the locker room polices itself, where practice standards are upheld internally, and where every player understands his role not just in execution, but in elevation. That vision starts now, with the sweat-streaked, hard-nosed, character-revealing grind of summer workouts.
Ultimately, Notre Dame’s success in the fall will hinge on many factors—health, game planning, execution, and a touch of luck. But none of those variables will matter if the team lacks strong, steady, and selfless leadership. The seeds of that leadership are being sown now. They are being watered with early mornings, long evenings, tough conversations, and shared purpose. Every day offers a chance to lead, whether it’s picking up a teammate, correcting a mistake, or simply choosing to give full effort when it would be easier not to.
This summer, under the cloudless Indiana skies and within the sweat-soaked confines of the practice facilities, Notre Dame football is undergoing a transformation. Not a transformation of scheme or personnel, but of identity. It is becoming a team that leads from within, that holds itself to the highest standard, and that embraces the truth that leadership is not about titles or accolades—it’s about action, consistency, and heart. As August inches closer and the eyes of the college football world begin to turn toward South Bend once again, the Irish will be ready—not just because of their physical preparation, but because of the leadership forged in the fire of summer.
