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Notre Dame football has produced some incredibly talented football players, as evidenced by the fact there are 14 NFL Hall of Famers who are Fighting Irish alumni – tied for most with USC. In this list, we pay homage to the legends of this storied school, and rank the greatest players to ever step foot in the “House That Rockne Built”.
25. Todd Lyght, Defensive Back (1987-90)
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Perhaps Lyght doesn’t get the due he deserves in the annals of Notre Dame football greatness. A two-time All-American (’89, ’90), Lyght was a three-year starter at cornerback. He recorded 29 tackles as a freshman and was a key member of the Irish’s 1988 national championship squad. In ’89, Lyght picked off eight passes, recorded 47 tackles and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He finished his Irish career with 161 tackles and 11 interceptions.
24. Aaron Taylor, Offensive Lineman (1990-93)
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Taylor might actually be a forgotten figure when it comes to the best of Notre Dame football. That’s disappointing because the talented offensive tackle was a two-time consensus All-American for the 1992 and 1993 seasons. In 1993, Taylor won the Lombardi Award as college football’s best lineman. He was also an Outland Trophy finalist that season. Taylor, who won a Super Bowl as a member of the 1996 Green Bay Packers, is a 2021 inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame.
23. John Huarte, Quarterback (1962-64)
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Huarte might be the least recognizable of the Fighting Irish’s seven Heisman Trophy winners. As a sophomore and junior at Notre Dame, Huarte saw limited action and threw a combined 50 passes. However, when legendary coach Ara Parseghian took over the program in 1964, Huarte put together one of the best seasons in Notre Dame history. As a senior, Huarte completed 114-of-205 of his pass attempts for 2,062 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also ran for three scores on an Irish squad that finished 9-1. In addition to winning the Heisman in ’64, Huarte was an All-American and college All-Star.
22. Jerome Bettis, Running Back (1990-92)
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Better known as “The Bus,” Bettis saw action in three seasons for the Irish, gaining 1,797 yards and rushing for 26 TDs in his last two campaigns. The bruising back left before his senior year, and went on to enjoy a stellar NFL career where he rushed for 13,662 yards, was Rookie of the Year in 1993, made six Pro-Bowls, and won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s also one of the more likable figures in the history of Notre Dame athletics.
21. Tony Rice, Quarterback (1986-89)
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Rice is one of the most beloved athletes in Notre Dame history. Not many ran the option offense better than he did. After having to sit out his freshman season due to Proposition 48 restrictions, Rice became a starter during the 1987 season. However, it was his work during the 1988 campaign that made Rice a star. He threw for 1,389 yards and ran for 775 – with nine rushing touchdowns – as the Irish went 12-0 to win their first national championship in 11 years. In 1989, Notre Dame fell short of a national title repeat, but Rice threw for 1,221 yards and rushed 934.
20. Frank Carideo, Quarterback (1928-30)
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A quarterback for Knute Rockne’s Fighting Irish in ’29 and ’30, with Carideo among the program’s standouts, Notre Dame didn’t lose a game. Though Carideo was a quarterback by trade, he was probably the most versatile player on the field for the Irish at the time. The offense essentially ran through Carideo, who was named a consensus All-American in each of his standout campaigns.
19. Bob Crable, Linebacker (1979-81)
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A two-time consensus All-American, Crable is certainly one of the great defensive players in college football history. He played on some decent Irish teams under Dan Devine and then Gerry Faust and any success the program enjoyed during that time had a lot to do with its star linebacker. Crable finished his Notre Dame career with a school-record 521 tackles, including 187 during the 1979 season. That season, Crable recorded 26 tackles versus Clemson.
18. Joe Montana, Quarterback (1975-78)
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Montana is obviously known for his stellar NFL career, but his five years at Notre Dame were quite interesting. After sitting out his freshman season, Montana saw action as a sophomore but missed the 1976 campaign with a shoulder issue. In ’77 and ’78, however, Montana was finally able to enjoy some sustained collegiate success while throwing for a combined 3,614 yards with 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Montana helped the 1977 squad win a national title.
17. Chris Zorich, Defensive Tackle (1987-90)
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Zorich was another massively popular Irish standout. His motor never stopped, which made him a favorite of Irish fans and feared by opposing offenses. Zorich began his Notre Dame career as a linebacker but was moved to nose tackle, rolled up his jersey to show his stomach, and became a three-time All-American (’88, ’89, and ‘90). He was a Lombardi Award finalist in 1989. Zorich was also named Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Orange Bowl during his senior season.
16. Bob Golic, Linebacker (1975-78)
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So those of a certain age, Golic (#55) might be best known for his role as Mike Rogers, the resident advisor from Save by the Bell: The College Years. He was actually a pretty good college and professional football player prior to his acting days. At Notre Dame, Golic played both linebacker and on the defensive line. He earned All-American honors in ’77 and ’78. Golic was also among the best collegiate wrestlers of his time, going 54-4-1 over three seasons. In the NFL, Golic was a three-time Pro-Bowler and two-time All-Pro.
15. Marchy Schwartz, Tailback (1929-31)
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We’re going back for this one. Schwartz (pictured second from the right) was twice named an All-American with the Irish while playing for legendary head coach Knute Rockne. In 1930, he rushed for more than 900 yards and scored nine touchdowns on the ground. During Schwartz’s three seasons at Notre Dame, the program went 19-0. When his playing days ended, Schwartz became an assistant coach of the Irish and followed with head coaching gigs at Creighton and Stanford.
14. Joe Theismann, Quarterback (1968-70)
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Most middle-aged NFL fans know Theismann as a star quarterback with Washington. However, Theismann (who pronounced his last name “THEES-man” in college) enjoyed a solid collegiate career with the Irish, especially as a senior in 1970. That season, Theismann set single-season program records – at the time – for passing yards (2,429) and touchdowns (16) while helping Notre Dame to a 10-1 record and win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl. He also finished second in the Heisman race to Stanford’s Jim Plunkett.
13. Ken MacAfee, Tight End (1974-77)
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MacAfee was a three-time All-American (’75, and consensus selection in ‘76 and ’77) for the Fighting Irish. He enjoyed his best season during the program’s national title run of 1977, as a senior, when he caught 54 passes for 797 yards with six touchdowns – all career highs. MacAfee also finished third in the Heisman voting that season. During his four-year run at Notre Dame, MacAfee recorded 128 receptions, 1,759 passing yards, and 15 touchdowns.
12. Alan Page, Defensive Lineman (1964-66)
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Page was probably best known for being part of the Minnesota Vikings’ famed “Purple People Eaters” defensive line. After his Hall-of-Fame NFL career ended, he became an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Before all that, Page helped Notre Dame win a national championship in 1966. The same year he was named a consensus All-American. He recorded 134 tackles, recovered four fumbles, and even scored a touchdown during his Irish career.
11. Bill Fischer, Offensive Lineman (1946-48)
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Fischer was one of the greatest collegiate offensive linemen of all time. The Chicago native, who prepped at the city’s famed Lane Tech High School, not only was a two-time consensus All-American (’47 and ’48) but also part of two national championship teams. At the end of the 1948 season, Fischer was awarded the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top lineman. He then enjoyed a solid NFL career with the Chicago Cardinals. Fischer also served as an assistant coach with the Irish from ’54-’58.
10. George Connor, Offensive Lineman/Linebacker (1946-47)
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Connor is a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Connor’s college career actually began at Holy Cross, where he starred in 1943. He then served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Upon return, Connor shunned the NFL and enrolled at Notre Dame. For the Irish, Connor was a consensus All-American in ’46 and ’47 – and was awarded the Outland Trophy as the country’s best interior lineman in 1946. Notre Dame won the national championship both seasons Connor was on campus.
9. Raghib Ismail, Wide Receiver/Returner (1988-90)
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One of the most dynamic athletes in college football history. Known as “The Rocket,” Ismail caught 71 career passes for 1,565 yards and four touchdowns, and added an additional 1,015 on the ground with another five scores during his three seasons with the Irish. However, it was Ismail’s work as a return man that truly made him a star. “The Rocket” returned five kickoffs and one punt back for touchdowns. Though he’s probably best known for the punt return TD he had called back due to a questionable penalty during the 1991 Orange Bowl loss to Colorado. An All-American, Ismail was the Walter Camp Award winner and Heisman runner-up in 1990.
8. Tim Brown, Wide Receiver (1984-87)
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Brown is Notre Dame’s most recent Heisman Trophy winner (1987), and the first receiver to win the prestigious award. He didn’t waste any time endearing himself to the Irish faithful. As a freshman, Brown’s 28 receptions were the most by any Notre Dame rookie. During his Heisman season, Brown caught 39 passes for 846 yards and rushed for 144. For his Irish career, Brown had 137 receptions for 2,493 yards and set a program-record 5,024 all-purpose yards and more than 15 touchdowns.
7. George Gipp, Halfback/Quarterback/Punter (1917-20)
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“The Gipper” might very well be the most recognized player in the storied history of Notre Dame football. But how much do casual college football fans know about one of coach Knute Rockne’s favorites? Most know about winning “one for the Gipper.” But, Gipp was an All-American who died at age 25 from a throat infection and pneumonia – shortly after his 1920 senior season ended. According to the NCAA Statistics Service, Gipp recorded four-year career totals of 2,341 rushing yards, 1,769 passing yards and was responsible for 21 touchdowns.
6. Angelo Bertelli, Tailback/Quarterback (1940-43)
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Bertelli won Notre Dame’s first Heisman Trophy back in 1943. He began his Notre Dame career as a tailback but was moved under center when the Irish employed the T-formation offense in 1942. That year, Bertelli threw for 1,039 yards with 10 touchdowns. A year later, Bertelli played just six games before leaving for the U.S. Marine Corps. In those six contests, Bertelli was 25-of-36 passing with 10 touchdowns. It was good enough to win him the aforementioned Heisman.
5. Paul Hornung, Halfback/Defensive back/Kicker/Quarterback (1954-56)
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Simply known as “The Golden Boy.” While Hornung is regarded as one of the great running backs in pro football history, he was quite the versatile athlete for the Irish. He recorded more than 1,200 total yards of offense and six touchdowns in 1954. Though Notre Dame finished with a dismal 2-8 record in 1956, Hornung shined on both sides of the ball, as well as special teams. His “one-man gang” performance earned him the Heisman Trophy that season.
4. Ross Browner, Defensive End (1973-77)
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Some Irish fans might think we’re placing Browner too high on this list. Then again, there are some die-hard Notre Dame supporters who feel Browner might be the greatest player in the history of the program. He was a four-year starter for the Irish and an All-American selection in ’76 and ’77. In ’76, Browner won the Outland Trophy. He took home the Lombardi Award in ’77. That same year, Browner was named Maxwell Award winner, honoring the nation’s best overall college football player. For his career, Browner recorded 340 tackles, deflected 10 passes, and scored two touchdowns.
3. Johnny Lattner, Halfback (1950-53)
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Lattner brought home plenty of hardware while starring for the Irish. The Chicago native was a two-time All-American (’52, ’53), who also won the Maxwell Award twice and was the 1953 recipient of the Heisman Trophy. In ’53, Lattner rushed for 651 yards with nine touchdowns. During his career in South Bend, Lattner totaled 1,726 rushing yards and caught 39 passes for 613 yards. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
2. Leon Hart, End/Fullback (1946-49)
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Another Irish hero who won the Heisman and the Maxwell Award – both in 1949. Hart was a two-way star for Frank Leahy’s great Irish squads of the late 1940s. A three-time All-American, Hart posted 49 career receptions for 701 yards and 15 touchdowns. Perhaps most impressive, Notre Dame went 46-0-2 and won three national championships with Hart on the roster. He’s also one of four players ever to win the Heisman, a national championship, and chosen first overall in the NFL Draft during a one-year span.
1. Johnny Lujack, Quarterback (1942-43; 1946-47)
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After his first two years at Notre Dame, Lujack left for World War II, then returned for two more legendary seasons. During his Heisman-winning season of 1947, Lujack went 61-of-109 for 777 yards and ran for 139. Like Hart, Lujack won three national championships at Notre Dame and was a two-time All-American. Brought up some 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Lujack started the trend of great quarterbacks to come out of western Pennsylvania – most notably Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana, and Dan Marino.
