Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt is one of the best prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he has a chance to be the first offensive lineman taken in the process.
Alt is widely looked at as the most polished and NFL-ready lineman in the class. He carries himself in a professional way, and his parents definitely played a big role in that.
A Look At Joe Alt’s Parents
On Oct. 8, 2003, Alt was born to John and Carolyn Alt in North Oaks, Minnesota. Joe’s parents have played a vital role in his development as a man and as a football player. He has been vocal throughout his career talking about the lessons his dad has taught him both on and off the field.
Getting To Know Alt’s Father
John Alt knows what it’s like to be a star in college and then a professional football player.
The elder Alt was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on May 30, 1962. He became a star football player in high school at Columbia Heights in Minnesota, where he earned a scholarship to play football at Iowa.
Alt played four seasons at Iowa and was then drafted with the No. 21 pick in the 1984 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played his entire career with the Chiefs, retiring in 1996.
Alt was a two-time Pro Bowler (1992 and 1993) and was a second-team All-Pro in 1990. He was inducted into the Chiefs’ Hall of Fame in 2002.
After his playing days, Alt became a high school football coach. He followed his son to Totino-Grace High School to coach the offensive line.
As mentioned, Joe has been vocal throughout his career about the lessons his dad taught him and uses him as strength when he’s going through tough times.
“I had my dad’s frame from birth,” Alt said in an interview with PFF. “But he wanted me to stay athletic as long as possible. I really played tight end and quarterback all throughout high school. Once I saw my body start to change, I knew I should probably figure out how to play tackle.”
“Having his background has been very helpful for me and he’s taught me so much,” Alt said. “But there’s always a little pressure. Obviously, he was a great player and did a lot. Now I have the lineage, so I want to continue that.”
Getting To Know Alt’s Mother
Carolyn Alt has kept a fairly low profile, with much of her personal and professional life being unknown. Like John, Carolyn has been vital in the development of Joe as a man.
It’s very rare for football players to receive a degree in mechanical engineering, but that’s exactly what Joe did. Carolyn played a huge role in the understanding that football isn’t going to always be there, and there will be a post-NFL life at some point.
Does Alt Have any Siblings?
Joe Alt has one brother named Mark, who is also a terrific athlete in his own right. He’s a professional athlete, but not on the football field.
Mark was a terrific high school football player with offers to Iowa, Akron, and Kansas, but he decided to go play collegiate hockey at Minnesota. After his college career, Mark was the No. 53 pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Since then, he’s played in various different hockey leagues, with his most recent stint being with the Straubing Tigers in Germany for the 2022-23 season. He is currently an unrestricted free agent.
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