Notre Dame football has had its fair share of successes at the quarterback position, but who makes the list as the best ever?
With such a rich history, there are plenty of former Irish signal callers who could easily make this list. With that said, I decided to set the cutoff for this list at the year 1955. Of course, this disqualifies Hall of Famers such as Gus Dorais, Harry Stuhldreher, Johnny Lujack, and others from making the list despite being more than qualified.
Also, it’s important to note that there will be many different opinions as to who belongs where on this list. For example, how would the recently departed Jimmy Clausen compare to John Huarte of the 1960’s? There’s bound to be a plethora of different opinions out there, and I encourage you to voice those in the comments.
Lastly, this list is composed of those who impacted Notre Dame the greatest. While many went off to have great (or not so great) professional careers, this particular list will not be weighing success in the NFL very highly. With that said, here’s my list of the top 10 quarterbacks to ever take the field for the Fighting Irish.
10. Paul Hornung (1954-56)
Paul Hornung was one of the contributing factors as to why I decided to set the cutoff at such an early date. Hornung joined the Irish in 1954, but it wasn’t until a year later that he truly started impacting the team. While Hornung wasn’t known as an exceptional passer, he made his mark as one of the best all-around players to ever step foot on Notre Dame’s campus.
Hornung would throw for only 917 yards, three touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 1956, but it was his contributions on both offense and defense that earns him the tenth spot on this list. Hornung finished the year with six rushing scores and multiple defensive interceptions on his way to winning the nation’s Heisman Trophy.
Hornung boasted impressive passing stats for the Irish, but it was his ability to contribute in multiple aspects of the game that earned him Heisman honors in his final season with Notre Dame. In fact, Hornung would go on to have an illustrious NFL career after being drafted as a running back by the Green Bay Packers.
9. Terry Hanratty (1966-68)
Terry Hanratty started his college career off with a bang, completing 53 percent of his passes for 1,247 yards, eight touchdowns, and ten interceptions while delivering the Irish to a controversial championship tie against Michigan State. In the closing minutes of the game, Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian opted to run out the clock instead of going for the win, due in part to Hanratty’s injury.
Hanratty would put up a mediocre junior year, tossing for 1,439 yards with only nine touchdowns to 15 interceptions. However, Hanratty would rebound the following year, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for 1,466 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Hanratty added four rushing scores to a statline that would lead him to All-American honors for the second time in three years.
The 1968 season had more in store for Hanratty, however, as the senior would finish third in both completion percentage and Heisman voting. Hanratty would go on to be drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 30th overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft.
8. John Huarte (1962-64)
John Huarte would throw his first passes for the Irish as a sophomore in 1962 before earning his first start as a junior in 1963. Huarte threw for a combined 283 yards and one touchdown in his first two years as an Irish quarterback, but truly came into his own as a senior. Huarte saw much success in his final year with Notre Dame, throwing for 2,062 yards, 16 scores, and 11 interceptions.
Huarte’s improvements over the course of his senior year did enough to earn him All-American and Heisman honors. Notre Dame would finish with a 9-1 record under Huarte in 1964, also finishing third in both points per game and the final AP poll. In fact, many polls held the Irish as 1964 national champions despite Alabama being dubbed the victors by the AP.
In addition to winning the Heisman in 1964, Huarte was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Despite being one of many Notre Dame quarterbacks inducted into the CFHOF, Huarte remains one of only three who have played within the last 62 years (Theismann, Hornung). Huarte would proceed to be drafted by both the NFL and AFL, serving primarily as a backup.
7. Jimmy Clausen (2007-09)
Jimmy Clausen, the most recent quarterback to crack this list, captured the hearts of many Irish fans during his time at Notre Dame. However, the timing always seemed to be off during his time in South Bend, much in part to head coach Charlie Weis’ late struggles. Regardless, Clausen improved each and every year before putting up one of the most impressive seasons for a Notre Dame quarterback to date.
Clausen earned his first start as a freshman in 2007, but things went poorly out of the gate as he would finish 3-6 over the course of his nine total starts. Clausen saw substantial improvement in his sophomore season, throwing for 3,172 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Despite Clausen’s success, the Irish would finish the season with a 7-6 record.
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Clausen would improve even further in his junior season, throwing for an exceptional 3,722 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. However, not even this effort would be enough for the Irish as they finished a measly 6-6. Clausen would go on to be a journeyman in the NFL, never quite reaching the potential seen in him throughout college.
6. Rick Mirer (1989-92)
Rick Mirer made his first appearance for the Irish as a freshman in 1989, completing half of his passes for only 180 yards and one interception. However, Mirer’s success would grow alongside his playing time as he went on to record 1,824 passing yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions as a sophomore.
Mirer would improve even further in his junior year, throwing for 2,117 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. While Mirer’s abilities as a passer were more than adequate, it was what he offered in the run game that earns him a spot on this list. In his sophomore and junior years combined, Mirer would finish with a total of 504 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
Mirer would refine his passing in his senior year, throwing for 1,876 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. The Irish would go a combined 29-7-1 under Mirer, finishing 10-1-1 in his final season with the team. Mirer would go on to earn All-American honors before being drafted 2nd overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1993 NFL Draft.
5. Tom Clements (1972-74)
Tom Clements’ first season with the Irish went very similar to Notre Dame’s most recent reason, starting off hot but falling apart with a few weeks left in the season. However, the Irish would do a complete 180 under Clements in his junior year, finishing off a perfect season with a 24-23 victory over Alabama to claim Ara Parseghian’s second National Championship title.
Clements was never perfect in one specific aspect of his game, but was well-rounded all things considered. Despite faltering in his first year, Clements will go down in history as one of the most successful Irish quarterbacks ever, finishing his college career with 3,594 passing yards and 36 total touchdowns.
Clements always struggled with interceptions, but had a clutch gene that left little room for criticism of any kind. Regardless, Clements will always be known for leading the Irish to one of their many National Championships as well as his incredible 29-5 overall record as a Notre Dame quarterback. Clements would go on to play in one NFL game for the Kansas City Chiefs.
4. Tony Rice (1987-89)
I’ll be the first one to admit it, Tony Rice may be a little high on this list. However, Rice brought the Irish to new heights despite being a run-first quarterback. For perspective, picture Brandon Wimbush beating not only Georgia, but Miami, Stanford, and eventually Alabama too. To an extent, that was Tony Rice. Hopefully that makes him seem more worthy of the No. 4 spot on this list.
Rice earned his first snaps as a sophomore, going 4-2 over six starts in 1987. Rice would struggle as a passer in 1987, but displayed potential as an option quarterback after logging 337 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. That potential would become reality in 1988 as Rice’s play led the Irish and head coach Lou Holtz to a 12-0 record and National Championship victory.
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While Rice’s career passing stats weren’t anything special (2,961 yards, 11 touchdowns, 20 interceptions), he’ll go down as one of the most successful Irish quarterbacks ever, finishing with a career 28-3 record as a starter. In addition to his national championship ring, Rice would go on to earn All-American honors and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award before playing in the CFL.
3. Joe Theismann (1968-70)
Joe Theismann, infamously known for one of football’s most grotesque injuries, had a fantastic Notre Dame career considering the level of the game at his time. Theismann would kick off his college career as a sophomore, accruing 451 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions as the aforementioned Hanratty’s successor.
Theismann would put forth a stronger effort as a junior, finishing the year with 1,531 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions as a full-time starter, but still failed to take the Irish to the promised land. In 1970, however, Theismann would lead the Irish to a second place finish after taking down No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
Theismann would round out his senior year with career totals of 4,411 yards, 46 total touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. In terms of awards, Theismann would earn All-American honors in his final season with the Irish before being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. Theismann would finish with only three losses over his entire Notre Dame career.
2. Brady Quinn (2003-06)
Brady Quinn, one of Notre Dame’s most prestigious products of the last few decades, entered the realm of college football as a fairly average quarterback. As any freshman, he struggled early, throwing nine touchdowns to 15 interceptions in his first year with the Irish. While Quinn improved over the course of the following year, the Irish didn’t, finishing with a record of 6-6.
Few knew what Notre Dame had in store for the following two years, however, as Quinn was absolutely dominant from 2005-2006. Despite finishing 9th and 17th in the AP poll, respectively, Notre Dame witnessed a total of 7,345 yards, 72 total touchdowns, and only 14 interceptions over the course of those two years.
Quinn saw the same fate as many Cleveland Browns quarterbacks before and after him, but that doesn’t detract from the incredible stats he put up in college. Quinn would leave Notre Dame as the most decorated quarterback in school history, a two time All-American who would go on to win the Sammy Baugh Trophy along with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Maxwell awards.
1. Joe Montana (1975-78)
Joe Montana, easily the most well-known quarterback in Notre Dame’s history, paired with Rick Slager to lead the Irish to an 8-3 finish in his sophomore year. Montana would miss the entire 1976 season, but gained full control of the starting job the following year. Despite the year off from football, Montana would throw for 1,604 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
During his junior year, Montana would etch his name in college football history by claiming yet another National Championship for the Irish following a 38-10 victory over No. 1 Texas. Montana’s efforts not only solidified his own legacy, but also spoke volumes for head coach Dan Devine in his first year as a Notre Dame head coach.
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Montana would keep the pace throughout his senior year, but was unable to bring the Irish into championship contention for a second year in a row. Despite finishing his career as one of the best to ever step foot in Notre Dame Stadium, Montana was never dubbed an All-American, thus disqualifying him from being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.