Mike McGlinchey was a highly-touted offensive tackle coming out of Notre Dame in 2018. He was picked by the San Francisco 49ers ninth overall that year and went on to spend five years playing for the Niners.
After testing free agency, McGlinchey signed with the Denver Broncos last year and he had no teammates from Notre Dame on the roster in 2023. That changed this spring.
Denver used a fifth-round pick to draft Fighting Irish running back Audric Estime in April, and it’s fair to say McGlinchey is excited.
“I think he’s going to do great, just like all Notre Dame alums do at this level,” McGlinchey said in July. “He certainly knows how to tote the rock a little bit. That’s something we specialize in South Bend, Indiana. The same way as Bo [Nix], he came in [and] he’s so mature. I was so excited as soon as he was picked. I got so many texts from people back at school [saying], ‘You’re going to love this kid.’ I’ve obviously watched him every Saturday for the last six or four years, however long he was at school.
“He’s a really talented player. He’s got great vision, he’s got the biggest arms I think I’ve ever seen on a running back and he runs hard. He did that for Notre Dame. I don’t think I would get any more credit by George [Paton] or Sean [Payton] if I said I block harder for a Notre Dame running back, but it certainly feels good to have more in the building because we think we’re the best in the world.”
Estime, 20, rushed for 2,261 and 29 touchdowns in his final two touchdowns at Notre Dame. He now joins a Broncos backfield that features Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin. It’s unclear how big of a role Estime will have early in the season, but McGlinchey is confident the RB will be ready when called upon this fall.
