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The 20 Greatest Notre Dame Football Players of All Time

By YPB Team

From Heisman-winning icons of the leather-helmet era to modern NFL stars forged under the Golden Dome, this list spans a century of Fighting Irish greatness. Who tops your list?

  1. Joe Montana — ranked #11
    Joe Montana
    Quarterback who led Notre Dame to the 1977 national championship and became an NFL legend.
    1000pts
  2. Tim Brown — ranked #22
    Tim Brown
    Wide receiver who won the 1987 Heisman Trophy as one of the sport's most electrifying playmakers.
    706pts
  3. Kyren Williams — ranked #33
    Kyren Williams
    Modern-era running back whose breakout college production launched a standout NFL career.
    573pts
  4. Michael Floyd — ranked #44
    Michael Floyd
    Record-setting wide receiver and one of the program's most productive pass catchers.
    573pts
  5. Raghib "Rocket" Ismail — ranked #55
    Raghib "Rocket" Ismail
    Explosive return specialist and receiver who terrorized opponents in the late 1980s.
    480pts
  6. Jaylon Smith — ranked #66
    Jaylon Smith
    Hard-hitting linebacker regarded as one of the most dominant defenders of the 2010s.
    423pts
  7. Leon Hart — ranked #77
    Leon Hart
    Two-way end who won the 1949 Heisman Trophy, the last lineman to do so.
    358pts
  8. Chris Zorich — ranked #88
    Chris Zorich
    Undersized but dominant defensive tackle and 1990 consensus All-American.
    358pts
  9. Manti Te'o — ranked #99
    Manti Te'o
    Heisman runner-up linebacker who anchored Notre Dame's 2012 undefeated regular season defense.
    358pts
  10. Ricky Watters — ranked #1010
    Ricky Watters
    Versatile running back and receiver who starred in Notre Dame's late-1980s championship run.
    358pts
  11. Joe Theismann — ranked #1111
    Joe Theismann
    1970 All-American quarterback known for his dual-threat playmaking before a long NFL career.
    358pts
  12. Paul Hornung — ranked #1212
    Paul Hornung
    "The Golden Boy" quarterback who won the 1956 Heisman Trophy despite a losing team record.
    358pts
  13. Justin Tuck — ranked #1313
    Justin Tuck
    Feared defensive end who became a Super Bowl-winning pass rusher in the NFL.
    358pts
  14. Angelo Bertelli — ranked #1414
    Angelo Bertelli
    Quarterback who won the 1943 Heisman Trophy despite leaving mid-season for Marine Corps service.
    282pts
  15. Johnny Lujack — ranked #1515
    Johnny Lujack
    Quarterback who won the 1947 Heisman Trophy and never lost a game he started at Notre Dame.
    192pts
  16. George Gipp — ranked #1616
    George Gipp
    Legendary 1920s halfback known as "The Gipper," whose deathbed speech inspired one of football's most famous rallying cries.
    192pts
  17. Tony Rice — ranked #1717
    Tony Rice
    Dual-threat quarterback who led the 1988 national championship team.
    192pts
  18. Brady Quinn — ranked #1818
    Brady Quinn
    Prolific 2000s quarterback and Heisman finalist who set numerous school passing records.
    85pts
  19. Aaron Taylor — ranked #1919
    Aaron Taylor
    Dominant two-time All-American offensive guard of the early 1990s.
    85pts
  20. John Huarte — ranked #2020
    John Huarte
    Quarterback who won the 1964 Heisman Trophy after barely playing the year before.
    85pts

#football575#players563#college football4#ncaa4#notre dame1

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