# Top 20 Notre Dame Football Players of All Time

> Heisman winners, Four Horsemen and modern All-Americans line up under the Golden Dome. A century of South Bend greatness, and only one spot at the top.

*By YPB Team · Published November 1, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/top-20-notre-dame-football-players-of-all-time*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Joe Montana** — score 1000/1000
   Comeback-king quarterback who led Notre Dame to the 1977 national title.
2. **Jaylon Smith** — score 662/1000
   Butkus Award-winning linebacker in 2015.
3. **Raghib Ismail** — score 607/1000
   The Rocket, a game-breaking returner and receiver who was Heisman runner-up in 1990.
4. **George Gipp** — score 542/1000
   1920 All-American halfback immortalised by the 'win one for the Gipper' legend.
5. **Brady Quinn** — score 491/1000
   Record-setting quarterback of the mid-2000s and Heisman finalist.
6. **Angelo Bertelli** — score 434/1000
   T-formation quarterback who won the 1943 Heisman Trophy.
7. **Golden Tate** — score 434/1000
   Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver in 2009.
8. **John Lattner** — score 367/1000
   Two-way back who won the 1953 Heisman Trophy and two Maxwell Awards.
9. **Jim Crowley** — score 367/1000
   Left halfback of the Four Horsemen and a consensus All-American in 1924.
10. **Bob Golic** — score 367/1000
   All-American linebacker known for his ferocious tackling in the late 1970s.
11. **Knute Rockne** — score 367/1000
   End who popularised the forward pass in 1913 before his legendary coaching career.
12. **Manti Te'o** — score 289/1000
   Linebacker who swept the major defensive awards and was Heisman runner-up in 2012.
13. **Chris Zorich** — score 289/1000
   Nose tackle on the 1988 champions who won the 1990 Lombardi Award.
14. **Kyle Hamilton** — score 289/1000
   Rangy All-American safety of the early 2020s.
15. **Tim Brown** — score 289/1000
   Electrifying receiver and returner who won the 1987 Heisman Trophy.
16. **Justin Tuck** — score 289/1000
   Pass-rusher who set Notre Dame's single-season sack record.
17. **Jerome Bettis** — score 197/1000
   Bruising running back who powered the Irish offence before his Hall of Fame NFL career.
18. **Alan Page** — score 197/1000
   Dominant defensive end on the 1966 national champions, later a Supreme Court justice.
19. **Elmer Layden** — score 197/1000
   Fullback of the Four Horsemen who starred in the 1925 Rose Bowl.
20. **Johnny Lujack** — score 197/1000
   1947 Heisman-winning quarterback who helped win three national titles.

Tags: american-football, players, college football, notre dame