Notre Dame is one of the most recognizable brands in all of sports but which players put the program on the map?
Not many brands in American sports are as immediately recognizable as the gold helmets donned by Notre Dame every fall Saturday. The program was founded in 1887 and by World War II, had already claimed three national titles under legendary coach and former player Knute Rockne. Rockne led the Irish from 1918 until his tragic death in a plane crash in 1931.
This success continued with coaches such as Elmer Layden, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz, all of whom won national championships in their tenures at Notre Dame. The Notre Dame program also is rich in gameday traditions as well. From the ever so popular “Notre Dame Victory March”, the sign in the locker room saying “Play Like a Champion Today”, and so many other iconic items of cultural significance.
With those great coaches and great traditions, obviously comes great players. The Notre Dame programs is home to seven Heisman Trophy winners and 101 Consensus All-Americans. Through the years they have hosted names such as George Gipp, Joe Montana, Ricky Watters, Jerome Bettis and hundreds of other star players. Here are the top 10 players in Notre Dame’s fabled history.
*Note: All statistics come from Sports-Reference.com or ncaa.org
Jerome Bettis Career Statistics, 1990-1992
- Games Played: 34
- Carries: 337
- Rushing Yards: 1,912
- Rushing Yards per Game: 56.2
- Rushing Touchdowns: 27
- Yards per Carry: 5.7
- Receptions: 32
- Receiving Yards: 419
- Receiving Touchdowns: 6
- Notables: Notre Dame All-time single season touchdown leader (20)
There aren’t many more beloved figure’s in the history of Notre Dame Football than “The Bus” himself, Jerome Bettis. In his three-year career in South Bend, Bettis rushed for 1,912 yards and 27 touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards per carry, pretty good for a fullback at the Division I level. Bettis also added 419 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns as well.
Bettis arrived at Notre Dame by way of Mackenzie High School in Detroit. He saw limited action as a freshman carrying the ball 15 times for 115 yards and a touchdown. Bettis’s role was expanded to a bigger role his sophomore as the starting fullback, rushing for 972 yards and 16 touchdowns and also accumulating 190 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
His numbers did drop slightly his senior season, rushing for 825 yards and ten touchdowns, but still made a huge impact on a game-by-game basis. Bettis declared for the NFL Draft following his junior year and had a 12-year NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ross Browner Career Statistics, 1973, 1975-77
- Games Played: 46
- Tackles: 340
- PBU’s: 10
- Fumble Recoveries: 12
- Touchdowns: 1
- Notables: 1976 & 1977 UPI Linemen of the Year, 1977 Maxwell Award, 1977 Lombardi Award, 1976 Outland Trophy, 1976 & 1977 Unanimous First Team All-American
One of the most decorated defensive lineman in college football history, Ross Browner was the anchor of the Notre Dame defense throughout the mid-1970’s. Browner recorded 340 career tackles, broke up ten passes, recovered 12 fumbles and added a defensive touchdown. Notre Dame compiled a 39-7 record during Browner’s four seasons.
Browner was an imposing figure in his day, standing at 6-foot-3, 216 lbs, he could single-handily take over battles in the trenches from his defensive end position. Browner was the only two-time recipient of the UPI Lineman of the Year and was the winner of the Maxwell and Lombardi Awards in 1977 and the Outland Trophy in 1976. He was also a unanimous First Team All-American in 1976 and 1977.
Browner would go on to have an eight-year NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Tim Brown Career Statistics, 1984-1987
- Games Played: 43
- Receptions: 137
- Receiving Yards: 2,493
- Receiving Touchdowns: 12
- Yards per Game: 57.9
- Yards per Catch: 18.2
- All-Purpose Yards: 5,024
- Return Touchdowns: 6
- Notables: 1987 Heisman Trophy, 1987 Walter Camp Award, 1987 UPI Player of the Year, 1987 Unanimous First Team All-American
The first Heisman Trophy winner on this list is former wide receiver Tim Brown. Brown was one of the most electrifying players of the 1980’s in college football as he was an all-purpose machine that Lou Holtz could base a big chunk of his offense on. He finished his Irish career with 137 receptions for 2,493 yards and 12 touchdowns. Brown also accumulated 5,024 all-purpose yards, including six special teams touchdowns.
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As a true freshman, Brown saw action in every game, catching 28 balls for 340 yards and a touchdown. His numbers improved through his sophomore year and into his junior year, which happened to be his best statistical season. In 1986, Brown hauled 45 passes for 910 yards and five touchdowns, along with two rushing touchdowns and two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
However, Brown saved his best for last in 1987, hauling in 39 passes for 846 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown and three punt returns for touchdowns. His play was enough to give him the Heisman Trophy as well as the Walter Camp Award and earned a unanimous First Team All-American selection. Brown went on to play 16 years in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Paul Hornung Career Statistics, 1954-1956
- Games Played: 39
- Completions: 110
- Pass Attempts: 233
- Passing Yards: 1,696
- Carries: 208
- Rushing Yards: 1,051
- Total Touchdowns: 15
- Interceptions: 10
- Interception Return Yards: 212
- Notables: 1956 Heisman Trophy, 1955 & 1956 First Team All-American
Before he was a key piece of Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers in the 1960’s, Paul Hornung was an all-around star for Terry Brennan and Notre Dame. One of the last true triple threat players, Hornung did virtually everything in his three-year career in South Bend. He passed for 1,696 yards and rushed for 1,696 for a cumulative total of 15 touchdowns. Hornung also recorded 10 career interceptions as a defensive back.
As a sophomore, Hornung saw most of his action as a defensive back, recording three interceptions in 1954. In the 1955 season, Hornung became a two-way star, passing for 743 yards, rushing for 472 yards and intercepting five passes. Hornung was the lone star for the Irish in 1956, passing for 917 yards, rushing for 420 yards and intercepting two passes. He also handled kicking and punting duties for Notre Dame, something he would continue to do in the NFL.
Despite having a 2-8 record his senior year, Hornung was awarded the Heisman Trophy under much scrutiny. He went on to be drafted by the Green Bay Packers and would play his entire ten-year career in Green Bay, winning four NFL Championships.
Johnny Lattner Career Statistics, 1951-1953
- Games Played: 30
- Carries: 350
- Rushing Yards: 1,724
- Rushing Yards per Game: 57.4
- Yards per Carry: 4.9
- Receptions: 39
- Receiving Yards: 581
- Total Touchdowns: 20
- Interceptions: 13
- Notables: 1953 Heisman Trophy, 1952 & 1953 Maxwell Award, 1952 & 1953 Consensus First Team All-American
Already the third Heisman winner on this list, Johnny Lattner was a running back before his time with his ability to run the ball and catch the ball. In his three-year career, Lattner rushed for 1,724 yards and added another 581 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. He was also a defensive back and recorded 13 career interceptions, which still ranks top five in school history.
Lattner saw some action his sophomore season, rushing for 341 yards, receiving for 157 yards, and intercepting five passes on defense. His numbers continued to trend upward through his junior and in into his senior season. In 1953, Lattner rushed for 651 yards, caught another 204 yards, and intercepted four passes.
His senior statistics were good enough to win him the Heisman Trophy, along with the Maxwell Award and was also a two-time consensus First Team All-American. Lattner went on to play one season for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL.
Alan Page Career Statistics, 1964-1966
- Games Played: 30
- Notables: 1964 & 1966 National Champion, 1966 Consensus First Team All-American
He is best known for his career with the Minnesota Vikings as a member of the famous “Purple People Eaters” defense, but before that Alan Page was a star defensive end for Ara Parseghian’s first two national championship teams at Notre Dame. Page played in 30 games in his college career, including the famous 1966 “Game of the Century” between Notre Dame and Michigan State which ended in a 10-10 tie.
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In Page’s senior season, he was a consensus first team All-American and was a first round pick in the 1967 NFL Draft. He played 14 years in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears and was a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1993 to 2015.
Johnny Lujack Career Statistics, 1942-43 & 1946-47
- Games Played: 28
- Completions: 144
- Pass Attempts: 280
- Passing Yards: 2,094
- Passing Yards per Game: 74.7
- Passing Touchdowns: 18
- Carries: 81
- Rushing Yards: 438
- Notables: 1943, 1946 & 1947 National Champion, 1947 Heisman Trophy, 1947 AP Male Athlete of the Year, 1946 & 1947 Unanimous First Team All-American.
Johnny Lujack’s career was different to say the least. He arrived at Notre Dame in 1942 and became starting quarterback in 1943 for his sophomore season. However, following the conclusion of his sophomore season, he was called into action in World War II and returned in time for the 1946 season and would light up the statbooks his final two years.
As a sophomore Lujack threw for 525 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another 191 yards. When he returned for his junior season in 1946, his numbers jumped to 778 yards and five touchdowns and 108 yards rushing. His senior season was by far his best, throwing for 791 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 139 yards, which won him the Heisman Trophy.
Along with the Heisman, Lujack was named AP Male Athlete of the Year and was two-time Unanimous All-American and a three-time national champion in his career. Lujack would play for the Chicago Bears for three years before retiring in 1952.
Leon Hart Career Statistics, 1946-1949
- Games Played: 38
- Receptions: 49
- Receiving Yards: 742
- Receiving Touchdowns: 13
- Receiving Yards per Game: 19.5
- Yards per Catch: 15.1
- Notables: 1949 Heisman Trophy, 1949 Maxwell Award, 1948 & 1949 Consensus First Team All-American, 1946, 1947 & 1949 National Champion
Leon Hart is one of two non-quarterback or running back players on offense to win the Heisman Trophy along with Desmond Howard of Michigan. Hart was a star end on both offense and defense for four years at Notre Dame. He caught 49 passes for 742 yards and 13 touchdowns in his Irish career, numbers unheard of in that era of football.
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Hart made his impact right away as a freshman as he caught five passes, but for 107 yards and a touchdown. His numbers would only get better from there as he saw sharp rise in production from his sophomore year all the way through his senior year. As a senior, Hart caught 19 passes for 257 yards and five touchdowns, that paired with his play on defense, was enough to win him the Heisman Trophy.
Along with the Heisman, Hart was named the winner of the Maxwell Award and was a two-time consensus First Team All-American in 1948 and 1949. Hart also has the distinction of winning three national championships in 1946, 1947 and 1949. He played his entire seven-year professional career with the Detroit Lions, winning three NFL Championships.
Joe Montana Career Statistics, 1974-1978
- Games Played: 27
- Completions: 268
- Pass Attempts: 515
- Passing Yards: 4,121
- Passing Touchdowns: 25
- Passing Yards per Game: 152.6
- Carries: 129
- Rushing Yards: 104
- Rushing Touchdowns: 14
- Notables: 1977 National Champion
The man known as “Joe Cool” first became to be known as that during his days as the quarterback of the Fighting Irish. Joe Montana was not setting the world ablaze when he played for Notre Dame, but he was definitely a legend in every sense of the word. He finished his career with 4,121 passing yards and 25 touchdowns.
Montana saw playing time as a sophomore, playing in seven games and was expected to be the starter for 1976, but a shoulder injury allowed the use of a redshirt and an extra year. He returned in 1977 and led the Irish to a national championship, throwing for 1,604 yards. In 1978, he had his best statistical season, throwing for 2,010 yards and ten touchdowns.
It was also in 1978 that introduced himself to the nation in the “Chicken Soup Game”, when a very ill Montana led the Irish from a 34-12 deficit to beat the Houston Cougars 35-34 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Montana would play 15 years in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, winning four Super Bowls and is arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time.
George Gipp Career Statistics, 1917-1920
- Games Played: 32
- Carries: 369
- Rushing Yards: 2,341
- Yards per Carry: 6.3
- Completions: 93
- Pass Attempts: 187
- Passing Yards: 1,769
- Total Touchdowns: 21
- Interceptions: 5
- Notables: 1920 Consensus All-American
Immortalized by former President Ronald Reagan’s portrayal in Knute Rockne, All American, George Gipp was a talent never before seen in college football. He was a master of Rockne’s Notre Dame Box formation and would tear teams apart. He rushed for 2,341 yards and passed for 1,769 yards in his Irish career, tragically cut short following a bout with pneumonia and strep throat.
Gipp arrived in South Bend in 1917 and contributed right away, rushing for 244 yards and passing 40 yards. His numbers would sky rocket throughout the rest of his career with Notre Dame. In his senior season in 1920, Gipp rushed for 827 yards and passed for another 709 yards leading the Irish to a 9-0 season.
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He is forever remembered in college football lore for telling Knute Rockne on his deathbed to have his boys “Win just one for the Gipper”, a quote that will make the spine of anyone shiver with the weight of that statement. Gipper died on December 14, 1920, but he still remains the greatest player in Notre Dame history 98 years after he played his final game.