Notre Dame’s Charlie Partridge is just a dude with a dog

July 16, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Notre Dame kind of hit the jackpot with Charlie Partridge as the new defensive line coach. He has made a strong name for himself during his time with the Pitt Panthers and in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. As Notre Dame’s defensive staff started move around this past offseason, there was an opening for the defensive line coach — and Charlie was their man.

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Since his arrival, Notre Dame nailed the transfer portal with additions of Francis Brewu, Tionne Gray, and Keon Keeley; and they have been tearing it up on the recruiting trail with blue-chip commitments from Aidan O’Neil, David Folorunsho, Jackson Vaughn, and Abraham Sesay.

Charlie Partridge is a DOG… but he also owns a dog (at least from what I can tell from a photo) and honestly, a bulldog named Meatball for a defensive line coach is right out of central casting.

Meatball working on a game face! The season is almost upon us!! #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/ZmvSRGcvw5
— Charlie Partridge (@CoachPartridge) July 14, 2026

So… me not knowing what dog (if any) the other Irish coaches own, I’m going to take a stab at guessing what the pairing are for coach and man’s best friend.

Marcus Freeman

St. Bernard named Brutus

Chris Ash

Basset Hound named Tray

Mike Denbrock

A pair of Yorkies named Led and Zeppelin

Marty Biagi

Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog named Lucrezia

Mike Brown

Doberman named Mike Jones

Brian Jean-Mary

Three dachshunds named Lucky, Bud, and Oscar