When we last checked in with Dylan McFarland, it was 2024 and a) he was on the verge of being inducted into the Montana Grizzlies Athletic Hall of Fame and b) UM’s football team was off a 55-48 loss to Weber State. 

“I didn’t know that was a thing,” said McFarland, who never lost to the Weber Wildcats in his time with the Griz. 

This Thursday, between the first and second quarter of the Crosstown football game, McFarland will be inducted into the Wall of Legends at Legends Stadium, in honor of his athletic career with the Flathead Braves.  

“The Legends Wall of Fame honors people whose accomplishments, leadership and service have made a lasting difference in the Kalispell School District and the wider community,” the press release from Kalispell Public Schools said. “McFarland’s record as a student, athlete, attorney and volunteer makes him a natural fit.” 

It will also be five days removed from the Grizzlies’ 49-44 loss at Northern Arizona, another squad that McFarland could not lose to. 

“No, never did,” he confirmed Wednesday. 

Things change. For example, McFarland came to the University of Montana in 1999 as a 6-foot-5, 234-pound offensive lineman. When he left, drafted in the seventh round by the Buffalo Bills, he was 6-6 and 305. 

He played a handful of NFL games before he injured a knee, and while in Missoula doing his PT ahead of the next season, he began studying for the LSAT. He recalled taking the test in 2007 alongside Shane McIntyre and Seamus Molloy, finishing third in that triad. “So I was (ticked),” he said. But they all sailed through.  

Then came an invite to Oakland for a tryout with the Raiders. 

“Coach (Tom) Cable was there, and he used to be the Idaho coach,” McFarland said. Cable asked him how he felt; McFarland, his knee still troublesome, said he wasn’t sure he’d pass the physical. When asked what else was going on, McFarland noted that law school started Monday. 

“He came back two hours later and said, ‘Good luck at law school,’ “ McFarland said. “And that was it. One week I’m sitting in Oakland, talking with Lane Kiffin. A week later I’m sitting in law class.” 

Now he’s raising three kids with his wife, fellow Flathead alum Allie. “I coach Will’s tackle football team and Sam’s flag football team,” McFarland said. “Then I just try to get Addy where she needs to go.” 

Addy, Will’s twin, is also playing flag football. Her coach? Chase Reynolds. Meanwhile he and Molloy make half of the firm McFarland, Molloy, Lacny and Duerk. 

“Honestly, I was always wanting to solve problems,” McFarland said of choosing law. “Sometimes it’s easy when you have a good case come through the door: ‘This is a slam dunk.’ Most of them people are hurt, and when you’re hurt, that’s all you’re thinking about. 

“I was hurt back when I played, and you’re just trying to get better. Then you have somebody on the other side saying, ‘You’re not hurt; you’re fine.’ 

“I do a pretty good job of figuring out what people are all about and figuring out the best way to resolve what’s going on.” 

The trip to the former Rawson Field is a lot longer than it used to be for McFarland: 120 miles as opposed to the house where he grew up, four blocks from the stadium. He reckons he spent as much time at one place as the other. 

Now he’s come full circle and he can walk a little taller, if that’s possible. Like an NAU win over the Griz, we suppose it is. 

Sports Editor Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 406-758-4463 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.