Assuming they ever really played again, the Notre Dame football and Michigan Wolverines would be bitter rivals on the field. There’s no love lost between the two schools, despite the length of time that’s passed since they did settle it between the hashmarks.
In a world where players change schools often and allegiances shift, it’s not uncommon to see two players from even the most bitter of rivals hanging out and palling around when the helmets come off. With the Irish and the Wolverines not having faced off since 2019, there are almost no guys left on either roster who even remember when the two teams last played.
Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen shows big-time sportsmanship at NFL Draft celebration
All of that is to say that Notre Dame football linebacker Drayk Bowen being there to congratulate former Michigan stand out defender Kenneth Grant at a draft party isn’t quite as appalling as it would have been a decade ago.
Notre Dame LB Drayk Bowen back in The Region to give congrats to his former rival Kenneth Grant. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/HCBTHcHK8f
— Matt Freeman (@mattfreeman05_) April 25, 2025
It’s a good thing, because there are plenty of Irish fans who would not love the visual of Bowen going up and congratulating Grant after he was taken in the first round by the Miami Dolphins. However, this sort of thing these days is little more than good sportsmanship between two guys who understand how hard it is to get where Grant now sits.
It’s also possible that it won’t be too long before someone is coming up the Bowen and congratulating him for getting taken in the NFL Draft.
The Notre Dame football linebacker recorded 78 tackles in 2024 in what was a breakout season. He also had 2 passes defended a sack and 3 forced fumbles. He’ll be looked at as a leader of this defender under new coordinator Chris Ash.