Notre Dame boosts its defensive line with Charlie Partridge's proven track record. Can he elevate an already dominant unit?
Notre Dame made two big moves on its coaching staff on Friday, with the biggest news being the addition of Charlie Partridge as the new defensive line coach. That news followed news that Al Washington - who coached the defensive line from 2022 to 2025 - would now be the linebackers coach for the Irish.
Partridge has spent the last two seasons coaching the defensive line for the Indianapolis Colts, but he spent the previous 22 seasons coaching in college football, with most of that time serving as a defensive line coach. He was the head coach at Florida Atlantic from 2014-16, and coached linebackers for a season at Pittsburgh (2007) as well serving as a special teams coordinator at both Pitt (2006-07) and Wisconsin (2008-10).
His most recent college experience was at Pittsburgh, where he served as the defensive line coach in 2017 and then the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for the Panthers from 2018 to 2023. The 52-year old Partridge has faced Notre Dame seven times while at Pittsburgh, but now he's being put in charge of Notre Dame's talented defensive line, which led the nation in pressures in 2025 (PFF).
For a number of reasons this is an excellent hire for Notre Dame. Washington has done well coaching up the Irish front, and the 2025 season was the team's best DL season in years. Partridge will be tasked with taking it to another level, which won't be easy, but his track record is outstanding.
BACKGROUND WITH ASH
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Chris Ash enters his second season with the Irish and he likely played a key role in the newest staff hire. A defensive coordinator needs assistance that know how to carry out his plan, and Partridge and Ash have history together. The pair coached together for three seasons at Wisconsin (2010-12) and one season at Arkansas (2013). In 2014, Ash went to Ohio State as the co-defensive coordinator and Partridge was hired as the head coach at Florida Atlantic. With Partridge on board, all three of Notre Dame's main assistants - including Mike Mickens and Washington - have history with Ash.
RUN DEFENSE SHOULD KEEP ROLLING
Notre Dame had a much improved rush defense in 2025, with the Irish giving up just 92.3 yards per games and 2.96 yards per carry, which ranked 10th and 11th nationally. It marked the first time since 2012 that Notre Dame finished the regular season holding opponents to less than 100 rushing yards per game. With Partridge arriving the hope is that will continue, if not improve.
Partridge was at Pittsburgh from 2017 to 2023, and for much of that time the Panthers had an outstanding rush defense. From 2019-22, Pittsburgh ranked 12th, 3rd, 6th and 8th in rush defense. The Panthers also ranked 7th, 3rd, 3rd and 13th in yards allowed per attempt. Pittsburgh also ranked 9th, 2nd, 3rd and 19th in tackles for loss per game.
During that four-season stretch the Panthers held opponents to just 97.3 rushing yards per game and 2.89 yards per carry. The Panthers also averaged 104.5 tackles for loss per season during that stretch, which is a tremendous level of production.
PASS RUSH PRODUCTION
Notre Dame's 2025 defensive line had its most productive pass rushing season in several years, and according to Pro Football Focus no team in the country had more pressures than the Irish had. The Notre Dame defensive line was one of the most productive groups in the country, and that should continue under Partridge. Ideally, Notre Dame's defensive line will take another jump and be even better.
Partridge has an outstanding track record of producing pressure on the quarterback with his defensive line. Notre Dame racked up 285 pressures and had 79 hits + sacks on the quarterback. In 2024, the Irish defense racked up 272 pressures and 104 hits + sacks in 16 games.
From 2019-22, the Panthers AVERAGED 284.5 pressures per season and 120.3 hits + sacks per game. The Panthers had 116, 110, 137 and 118 hits + sacks in those four seasons, all of which blow away the best mark that Notre Dame had. Over the last four seasons, Notre Dame had three defensive lineman with at least 10 tackles for loss. From 2019-22, Partridge had six players that produced eight seasons with double digit tackles for loss.
NFL RESULTS
Partridge has had no problem putting players into the NFL during stints at Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Arkansas. During his tenures at those three schools, Partridge produced eight different NFL Draft picks. That includes four picks during his most recent stint at Pittsburgh, including first round pick Calijah Kancey (2023). Of course, his most famous former pupil is JJ Watt, who like Kancey was an All-American and a first round NFL Draft pick.
Kancey was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 when he racked up 30 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Watt produced 36.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in two seasons under Partridge.
From 2019 to 2022, four different Pittsburgh defensive linemen were named first-team All-ACC performers. Cancey was named a Unanimous All-American (2022), while ends Patrick Jones II and Rashad Weaver both earned Consensus All-American honors in 2020.
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