Joshua Burnham, a native of the world’s cherry capital, Traverse City, Michigan, made the decision to commit to Notre Dame in 2021. His parents, however, who are both Michigan fans, believed their son would wind up in Madison’s Camp Randall Stadium. But Joshua said he wants to be receptive to everything. That’s precisely who he is. Burnham was a dynamic player for Central High School in Traverse City.

Whether he was playing linebacker, RB, or QB, Josh was making plays on the field. He was a four-star prospect due to his size and versatility. And considering that he had multiple offers from pertinent schools, he finally enrolled at Notre Dame in January 2022. Thanks to his parents’ support and direction.

Who is Joshua Burnham’s Dad?

For Joshua Burnham, having a father with athletic credentials is a blessing. His father was instrumental in his decision to play collegiate football at Notre Dame. As a former athlete, Joshua’s father, Sean Burnham, has fostered his love of sports since he was just a kid. In addition, he has taken an active role in helping Joshua throughout his journey, sharing exciting moments during the recruitment process, such as coaches’ FaceTime conversations prior to crucial games.

It was a Clemson vs. Notre Dame game. An assistant coach at Notre Dame made a Facetime call prior to their matchup with the No.1 team. “They’re an hour away from taking pre-game warmups, and two and three coaches are FaceTiming Josh. They went way out of their way. We’re all gathering together to watch it on the big screen, and they’re reaching out to us. Just a little different,” Sean stated after the event.

It just shows that Sean was pleased by Notre Dame’s concern for his son, who aspired to be different as well. And it came naturally to Sean, a father, that Joshua found a location where he felt at home. “When that transition was happening, coach Lezynski was the first one to reach out. He has made a lot more of those real personal connections. He was a huge, crucial part of the comfort and relationship building,” said Josh’s father.

Josh added, “Just seeing everything there, it felt like home. That was really the main part,” referring to Notre Dame. And, in a sense, the last section. “The way the whole process for us as a family has been handled, that’s what stood out,” Sean stated. Sean has conveyed gratitude for the close relationships he had with Irish’s coaching staff, emphasizing how they helped his family have a memorable recruiting journey.

Joshua’s mother, however, was equally active in the entire process. She has known Josh’s potential since he was young at heart.

Who is Joshua’s mom?

On St. Patrick’s Day, Burnham’s birthday, it all happened. Which may not have been entirely accidental. “Happy Birthday” was sung by the well over 100-person audience right before Josh appeared on CBS Sports. “He was born on St. Patrick’s Day. Maybe it was written in the stars. Who knew I’d have a 6-foot-4 leprechaun?” said Joshua’s mother, Katie.

Where Joshua said, “It’s always been a dream of mine to play college football. And to be able to do it on my birthday, everything lined up perfectly. They treat everyone like family (at Notre Dame). My biggest thing would be the culture. They’ve done very well the last few years. I’m excited to take my talents there.”

Katie has supported and encouraged Joshua throughout his journey, playing a crucial role in both his life and sports career. As a gifted football player, Joshua gets a lot of attention, which Katie has said is amazing to him but can be overwhelming at times. She highlights his modesty and the role his family has played in his accomplishments, saying, “He still doesn’t want it to be about him.”

She is an avid Michigan supporter and always hopes his son will play for them. However, a trip to South Bend altered everything. “I know this all happened because of football. But we took football out of the picture and looked at where he’s going to be the most comfortable the next four years. It had to be the right fit for him,” said Katie.

As you can see, Josh’s success today is a result of both his parents. However, where did Notre Dame acquire this talent?

Where did Joshua Burnham grow up?

Growing up in Traverse City, Michigan, Joshua Burnham started playing football while attending Traverse City Central High School. He showed exceptional versatility by playing a variety of positions. Leading his team to two state semifinal trips, receiving honors like Michigan’s 2021 Gatorade Football Player of the Year, and being selected for the Detroit Free Press Football Dream Club were highlights of his high school career.

After HS, Burnham entered Notre Dame in 2022. Despite redshirting his freshman year, he made his NCAA debut against Boston College and made a big impact in the games that followed. He participated in all 13 games during his redshirt freshman season and made significant plays, including a vital stop against Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.

Burnham struggled in his sophomore season after missing multiple games due to an ankle injury. He did, however, make a noteworthy comeback in a rivalry game against Stanford, registering five tackles and recovering a fumble that led to a team TD. The DE has shown tenacity and agility throughout his collegiate career and is still a vital member of the program defense as of January 2025. Now, let’s see how good he plays in the National Title game.