If you start naming the best offensive linemen in the NFL today it won’t take long until a former Notre Dame player gets mentioned.
And then another.
And another.
And a few more after that.
When Harry Hiestand was employed by Notre Dame as their offensive line coach between 2012 and 2017 the Irish put not just good offensive linemen in the NFL but first and second round draft picks on the regular that have panned out.
Here’s just a short list as a refresher:
Zack Martin, Guard, No. 16 overall by Dallas in 2014
Nick Martin, Center, No, 50 overall by Houston in 2016
Mike McGlinchey, Tackle, No. 9 overall by San Francisco in 2018
Quenton Nelson, Guard, No. 6 overall (highest ever for a guard) by Indianapolis in 2018
Ronnie Stanley, Tackle, No. 6 overall by Baltimore in 2016
I think anyone who follows the NFL is familiar with more than a couple of those names for the right reasons.
Notre Dame was a mainstay under Hiestand as one of the best offensive line units in the nation and won the Joe Moore Award for exactly that in 2017.
Hiestand left Notre Dame after the 2017 season to take the same job with the Chicago Bears.
Things did not go according to plan as Hiestand’s offensive line didn’t progress like Bears brass would have liked (Pretty hard to be very good if you don’t invest in it if you ask me but that’s a question for the guys over at Bears Wire) and fired him Tuesday afternoon.
Would Hiestand want to go back to the college ranks again or is he only accepting another NFL job?
That I have no idea but I’m for one hopeful that Brian Kelly is at least on the phone already attempting to get Hiestand back as the offensive line unit has been fine since his departure, but far from as dominant as it was under him.
Also worth noting is that the Bears let offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich go as well. Helfrich you may recall once helped direct Marcus Mariota to a Heisman Trophy and the Oregon Ducks to a national championship game appearance but was let go after going just 4-8 in 2016.
Dare I start to think aloud and wonder about what Notre Dame’s offense could look like if they hired a couple of recently fired Chicago Bears assistants?
I don’t know how it’d all work out with Helfrich but I’m certain if interested that Hiestand would continue to do exactly what he’s already done at Notre Dame if given the chance.
Something to ponder for you all as we approach 2020.