The 25 best players in Notre Dame football history

Best known as "The Gipper." The versatile Gipp 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? That said, most only know about winning “one for the Gipper.” However, Gipp was an All-American who died at age 25 from a throat infection and pneumonia shorty after his 1920 senior season. According to the NCAA Statistics Service, Gipp recorded four-year career totals of 2,341 rushing yards, nearly 1,800 passing yards, and was responsible for 21 touchdowns.

Bertelli has the honor of winning Notre Dame’s first Heisman Trophy — 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 under coach Frank Leahy. That year, Bertelli threw for 1,039 yards with 10 touchdowns. One year later, Bertelli played just six games before leaving for the U.S. Marine Corps. In those six contests, however, Bertelli was 25-of-36 passing, for a hefty 512 yards with 10 touchdowns. Despite the small sample size, that six-game performance was good enough to win Bertelli the Heisman.

Lujack, who passed away in July 2023 at age 98, lived quite the life — especially on the gridiron. After his first two years at Notre Dame, Lujack left for World War II, then returned for two more legendary seasons. During his Heisman Trophy-winning season of 1947, Lujack went 61-of-109 for 777 yards and ran for another 139. Perhaps most impressive, Lujack won three national championships at Notre Dame and was a two-time All-American. Raised some 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Lujack started the trend of great quarterbacks to come out of western Pennsylvania — notably Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Dan Marino.

A member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames. Connor’s college career 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 an opportunity to play in the NFL and enrolled at Notre Dame. With the Irish, Connor was a consensus All-American in 1946, when he was also awarded the Outland Trophy as the country’s best interior lineman. He was again a consensus All-American in 1947. Notre Dame won the national championship both seasons with Connor in tow.

The Chicago native, who prepped at the city’s famed Lane Tech High School, was a two-time consensus All-American (1947 and ’48) for the Fighting Irish. Taking his success even further, Fischer was also part of two national championship teams at Notre Dame. 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 (earning three Pro Bowl nods). Fischer also served as an assistant coach with the Irish from 1954-58.

Another Irish hero, Hart won both the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award in 1949. He was a two-way star for Frank Leahy’s great Irish squads of the late 1940s, and is one of two players in college football history to win the award while technically listed as a lineman (while playing right end. A three-time All-American, Hart posted 49 career receptions for 751 yards and 13 touchdowns. During his collegiate run, Notre Dame went 46-0-2 and won three national championships. Hart is also one of four players ever to win the Heisman, a national championship and be chosen first overall in the NFL Draft during a one-year span.

One of the most decorated players in Notre Dame football history. The Chicago native, who prepped at famed Fenwick High School, was a two-time All-American (’1952, ’53), who also won the Maxwell Award twice, and was the 1953 recipient of the Heisman Trophy. During that historic season, Lattner rushed for 651 yards with nine touchdowns. For his career in South Bend, Lattner totaled 1,724 rushing yards and caught 39 passes for 613 yards. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

Simply known as "The Golden Boy.” Hornung is regarded as one of the great running backs in pro football history (with the Green Bay Packers), but he was quite the versatile athlete for the Irish during his legendary collegiate career. Hornung recorded more than 1,200 total yards of offense and six touchdowns — in addition to nine TD passes — in 1955. 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. He threw for 917 yards, scored seven touchdowns and recorded two of his 10 career interceptions during that '56 campaign — all enough to earn Hornung the Heisman Trophy.

To the casual college football fan, Huarte might be the least recognizable of Notre Dame's seven Heisman Trophy winners. As a sophomore and junior with the Irish, Huarte saw limited action, throwing 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. That year, 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. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Theismann might be best known for his success as an NFL 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. During that notable 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 Trophy race to Stanford’s Jim Plunkett. For his Notre Dame career, Theismann threw for 4,411 yards with 31 touchdowns.

There are plenty of Irish fans who believe Browner might be the greatest player in the history of the program, and not just on the defensive side of the ball. He was a four-year starter at Notre Dame, and an All-American selection in 1976 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, including a school-record 77 for loss, deflected 10 passes and scored two touchdowns.

No offense to Tyler Eifert or Michael Mayer, but MacAfee remains the best tight end in the history of Notre Dame football. MacAfee was a three-time All-American (1975, 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 that season, MacAfee caught 54 passes for 797 yards with six touchdowns — all career highs — and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. During his four-year run at Notre Dame, MacAfee recorded 128 receptions, 1,759 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Now, for those of a certain age, Golic might be best known for his role as Mike Rogers, the resident advisor from Save by the Bell: The College Years. Before that, however, Golic was a pretty good football player. At Notre Dame, Golic played both linebacker and on the defensive line, and earned All-American honors as a member of the Irish's national championship team from 1977,  and in ’78 (first team). His 479 tackles rank second in school history, and his 26 against Michigan in 1978 are tied for a single-game school record. Also among the greatest college wrestlers of all time, Golic was a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro in the NFL.

Montana is obviously known for his stellar NFL career, but his five years at Notre Dame were were filled with plenty of intrigue. After sitting out his freshman season, Montana saw action as a sophomore, but missed the 1976 campaign due to a shoulder issue. In ’77 and ’78, however, Montana finally enjoyed some well-earned, 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, but he never received any significant individual accolades with at Notre Dame.

A two-time consensus All-American (1980, '81), Crable should go down as one of the great linebackers in the history of college football. He played on some decent Irish teams under Dan Devine and then Gerry Faust, and any success the program enjoyed during that time period had a lot to do with his stellar linebacking play. Crable finished his Notre Dame career with a school-record 521 tackles, including 187 during the 1979 season. During that same campaign, Crable recorded 26 tackles versus Clemson — tied for the most in school history.

Pinkett ranks second all-time in Notre Dame history with 4,131 rushing yards. The two-time All-American also has the distinction of being the first Fighting Irish player to gain at least 1,000 yards on the ground in three straight seasons. Pinkett set a career high with 1,268 rushing yards in 1984, and ran for 17 touchdowns — the latter tying a single-season school record. He is Notre Dame's career leader with 49 rushing touchdowns and yards-per-game (96.1), and ranks second with 21 100-yard rushing contests.

Brown remains 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, meanwhile, Brown caught 39 passes for 846 yards and rushed for 144. For his Irish career, Brown, also among the greatest return men in school history, posted 137 receptions for 2,493 yards and set a program-record with 5,024 all-purpose yards, and amassed more than 15 touchdowns.

A fan favorite and modern-day Notre Dame hero. Not many ran the option offense better than Rice, who sat out his freshman season due to Proposition 48 restrictions. He became a starter during his sophomore 1987 season, then during Notre Dame's run to the national championship in 1988, Rice became a star. He threw for 1,389 yards and ran for 775 — with nine rushing touchdowns — as the Irish went 12-0 to claim their first national title in 11 years. In 1989, Notre Dame fell short of a national repeat, but Rice threw for 1,221 yards and gained 934 on the ground.

One of the more underrated heroes from the Notre Dame gridiron. The Irish have had some standout secondary stars in recent years, but Lyght was a two-time All-American (1989, ’90), and 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 — the latter ranking among the school's top 10 entering the 2023 season.

Another massively popular Notre Dame football star, Zorich always played hard, and 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 All-American (’88, ’89 and ‘90) — a consensus selection the final two years. In 1989, Zorich was named Lineman of the Year by the United Press International (UPI). One year later, Zorch won the Lombardi Award and was also named Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Orange Bowl. The College Football Hall of Famer recorded a career 219 tackles, including 21 for loss. 

One of the most dynamic athletes in college football history. “The Rocket" caught 71 career passes for 1,565 yards and four touchdowns, and added an additional 1,015 on the ground with another five TDs in three seasons at Notre Dame. However, it was Ismail’s work as a return man that truly made him a star. He returned five kickoffs and one punt back for touchdowns, though he’s probably best known for the punt return touchdown that was 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 Trophy runner-up in 1990.

Perhaps best known as "The Bus," Bettis played three seasons for the Irish, gaining 1,797 yards and rushing for 26 touchdowns during his last two campaigns. The bruising back left school 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. Though Bettis did not earn many notable individual collegiate accolades, the foundation for his Hall of Fame pro career was certainly laid at Notre Dame.

Another standout lineman produced in South Bend, Taylor was a two-time consensus All-American for the 1992 and 1993 seasons. In '93, 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. And, when it comes to the most underappreciated collegiate offensive lineman over the past 35 years or so, Taylor must be considered among the best.

Tate certainly left his mark after three seasons with the Irish. For starters, he is the only Notre Dame player to win the Biletnikoff Award (1989) — given to the nation's top wide receiver on an annual basis. He posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2008 and '09, and entered the 2023 season ranked third in career receiving yards (2,707), fourth in receiving touchdowns (26) and sixth for receptions (157). Tate also ranks second in Notre Dame history with 15 games of at least 100 receiving yards.

Regardless of Te'o's actions off the field while at Notre Dame, he remains one of the program's best defenders of all time. Somewhat surprising, Te'o was the first member of the Fighting Irish program to win the coveted Butkus Award (2012), honoring the nation's top linebacker. During that 2012 season, when Te'o totaled 113 tackles, 5 1/2 for loss and posted seven interceptions, he also won the Maxwell Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and finished second to Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in the Heisman Trophy race. For his career, Te'o ranks third at Notre Dam with 437 tackles and made 47 consecutive starts to end his collegiate run.