Joe Alt, son of former KC Chief, chooses football at Notre Dame

NCAA

A familiar last name to Kansas City Chiefs fans will be joining the football program at the University of Notre Dame.  Joe Alt, an offensive tackle at Totino-Grace High School, in the Minneapolis suburb of Fridley, announced a verbal commitment to the Fighting Irish on Monday.

Joe’s father, Jon Alt, played for the Chiefs from 1984 to 1996, entering the NFL as a first-round pick from the University of Iowa, before retiring and moving back to his native Minnesota to become a high school offensive line coach.  

Jon’s son, Mark went the hockey route with his collegiate career, playing “puck” at nearby University of Minnesota.  He is now with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.

When younger son Joe entered high school, Jon took the offensive line coaching job at Totino-Grace.  By early 2021, schools the likes of Missouri, Kansas State, Rutgers, Minnesota, Iowa State, Northwestern, and Iowa were among eight total offers.  

In the end, the combination of visiting the campus and experiencing the tradition of Fighting Irish football was the deciding factor in pushing the young Alt to South Bend.

Photo credit – Rivals.com / Fridley, MN