Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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54 NOV. 22, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED M ichael Floyd isn't bothered by the protective boot on his left foot that he's worn intermittently through three failed surgeries since 2022 and a fourth that finally seems to be properly addressing the Lisfranc injury he suffered chasing a dream. Notre Dame's all-time leader in career receptions (171 for 2,539 yards and 28 touchdowns), with scads more distinc- tions in the statistical archives, Floyd is chasing more dreams and with more fer- vor than he has in a long time. He is now almost three years into sustained sobriety. His post-football career is selling real estate back in the Twin Cities in Minne- sota. But his life, refocused, is about his wife, Sydney, and their three children, ages 12, 5 and 3. And giving back and paying forward. Which is why Floyd is so open about his past struggles and is regularly doing speaking engagements. "I go into high schools, colleges, small businesses," Floyd said when back on campus Nov. 8 for Notre Dame's 49-10 walloping of Navy. "Just like being a mo- tivator, because there's a lot of people out there who might need a little kick in the behind a little bit to get them going. "So, I mean, even for me, I don't re- ally listen to music that much anymore. I listen to podcasts, I listen to motivational speakers to get me going through the day." His connection to Notre Dame gets him going as well, so much so that he wants to share it with his family as much as pos- sible, including for the Navy game, when he was introduced on the field to the roar of the crowd during a break in the action. He loves the way fourth-year Irish head coach Marcus Freeman has made such a priority of connecting former players to the program. And he marvels at some of the similarities between red- shirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr and the signal-caller during two of his four seasons in South Bend, Jimmy Clausen. He even had some kind words for recently purged LSU head coach Brian Kelly, who was Floyd's head coach at Notre Dame his final two seasons (2010 and 2011) after Charlie Weis was fired. But he also said had Kelly been the Irish's head coach when Floyd was being recruited as a five-star receiver prospect out of Cretin-Derham High School in St. Paul, he would have taken a pass. "Some people like a smooth talker," said Floyd, who turns 36 later this month. "Some people like when peo- ple curse at them. [With them], I feel like you're getting the real person. The blinds are off. And that person feels comfortable with you talking. "But I do get it with the recruiting. You've got to be smooth with it. But … it's just not me. I liked Coach Weis, because he would get into your face and he wouldn't purposely spit in your face. But he has spit right there just waiting for you. Not on purpose. Not at all. "But going back to Coach Kelly, that's a whole different type of recruiting [at LSU]. The Midwest is very different. You've got to be able to relate to your play- ers. It's just something you've got to do. "And if people can smell that you're not being real or you're not staying true to your word, you'll lose a team quickly with that. So, best of luck to Coach Kelly. Thank you for being there on my side when I was here. "The situations I've been through, people have been kicked out of school. And the fact that I was able to still stay here and graduate, it brought back all the positives. And, hopefully, he finds a new gig and gets rolling again." In a 2024 interview on the Minnesota Vikings website, Floyd admitted his NFL career could have been elongated beyond his retirement in 2020 had he been able to hide his addictions better, and getting caught — including a 2016 DUI and a league suspension in 2017 — is what ul- timately helped him get where he is now. "When people ask me if I regret [getting in trouble], I don't," he said. "My life is perfect how it is. I'm mentally and physi- cally in some of the best shape of my life. "I always tell people if they're going through any type of situation, they can always call me and I'll share my own ex- perience, because it's been an up-and- down journey, but I'm better because of it. I feel great, and I'm willing to share my experience and my life with anybody." Including the times he's fallen down. Especially the times he's fallen down. And sometimes quite literally. It was during a pickup basketball game in 2022 when a tendon on Floyd's foot snapped. He actually had aspirations of training to play pro basketball in Europe. "I thought I'd stay over there for maybe, I don't know, three or five years, and then come back," Floyd said. "I just wanted to get my family out there to see the world." Instead they get to see his world — unvarnished, unfiltered and uncluttered by addiction. As does anyone else who's willing to watch and listen. "Resiliency is a part of life. Always," he said. "I always tell people all the time, 'You only get to be successful through the failures that you've done in life and that you've dealt with.' There's a lot of people who are struggling with a lot of things. And if I could just touch one or two people in there, that's a win for me. "We're all going through this walk of life differently. But if you could just help someone, it can make a big difference." Editor's Note: Michael Floyd appeared on Sports Radio WSBT's "Gameday" show, with Blue & Gold Illustrated's Eric Hansen and Tyler Horka, and WSBT's Tim Grauel. ✦ Floyd has been open about his past struggles and is regularly doing speaking engagements. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA Michael Floyd Opens Up On Sobriety And His New Purpose Eric Hansen covers Notre Dame athletics for On3, with a focus on Irish football. He can be reached on X @ EHansenND THE DEEP READ ERIC HANSEN