Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Heisman winners

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football is a collegiate football program established in 1887. This program represents the University of Notre Dame, located in South Bend, Indiana. It competes as an Independent at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. The team has secured 11 national championships, as of December 2024. The Fighting Irish football program last won a national championship in 1988 defeating West Virginia with a 34–21 score in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona.

The team hosts its home games at Notre Dame Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 77,622 and is famous for the Touchdown Jesus mural overlooking the field. Known for their fierce rivalries with teams such as USC, Michigan, and Navy, the Fighting Irish maintain a unique and challenging schedule each season.

Who are Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Heisman winners?

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners, one of the most of any college football program, following Southern California which has 8, and Ohio State and Oklahoma tied with 7 Heisman winners, as of December 2024. Angelo Bertelli was the first Notre Dame player to win the Heisman in 1943.

Angelo Bertelli (1943)

Angelo Bertelli played for Notre Dame from 1941 to 1943. Known as the "T-Formation Quarterback," Bertelli was instrumental in popularizing this offensive strategy, leading the Irish to an undefeated season in 1943.

His performance that year earned him the Heisman Trophy, making him the first Notre Dame player to receive the prestigious award. In 1943, he played in six games during which he threw 36 passes, completing 25 with 10 touchdowns.

He received 648 votes and won the Heisman Trophy. However, after his six-game play in 1943 which was his senior year, he was activated by the Marine Corps and was informed about his win while he was in boot camp at Parris Island.

Johnny Lujack (1947)

Johnny Lujack played for Notre Dame between 1943 to 1947. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Lujack returned to lead the Irish to a national championship in 1947. He completed 61 passes for 777 yards and ran for 139 yards, earning the Heisman Trophy for his outstanding performance. During his collegiate football career, he also won the national championship three times with the Fighting Irish in 1943, 1946, and 1947.

Further in 1948, he joined the Chicago Bears stepping into a professional football career playing in NFL for the team. He served as a Quarterback Safety for the Chicago Bears till 1951 and has earned several awards and accolades throughout his career with the Bears, including 2-time Pro Bowl winner in 1950 and 1951, First-team All-Pro in 1950, and many more.

Leon Hart (1949)

Leon Hart played as a defensive end and co-captain for Notre Dame from 1946 to 1949. In his Heisman-winning season, which is 1949, he was the captain of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and led the team to a 10–0 record. As a result, he won two major awards at the end of the season including the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award.

Johnny Lattner (1953)

Johnny Lattner, a standout halfback at the University of Notre Dame, played under head coach Frank Leahy from 1950 to 1953. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1953, a season in which he also secured his second Maxwell Award. During that impressive 1953 campaign, Notre Dame went 9–0–1 and finished second in the final Associated Press poll.

Lattner rushed for 651 yards, scored nine touchdowns, caught 14 passes for 204 yards, made four interceptions, and scored two touchdowns on just 10 kickoff returns. After his collegiate career, Lattner was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1954 but played only one season before joining the United States Air Force.

Paul Hornung (1956)

Paul Hornung, known for his versatility, led Notre Dame in numerous offensive and defensive categories during the 1956 season. He was the team's top player in passing, rushing, scoring, kickoff and punt returns, and punting. In the 1956 season, Notre Dame had a 2–8 record, Hornung's individual performance earned him the Heisman Trophy in 1956, making him the only player from a losing team to win the award.

After his collegiate career, Hornung was the first overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He later played for the New Orleans Saints in 1967, concluding his football career after one season with the team.

John Huarte (1964)

John Huarte played quarterback for Notre Dame from 1962 to 1964. In his senior year in 1964, became the starting quarterback for Notre Dame. The Irish won all but one game that season, culminating in him winning the Heisman Trophy. Huarte threw for an impressive 2,062 yards with just 205 passes, showcasing his passing skills. In 1965, he was drafted by both the AFL and NFL, ultimately signing with the AFL's New York Jets. Later he also played in the NFL and in the WFL.

Tim Brown (1987)

Tim Brown played as a wide receiver for Notre Dame from 1984 to 1987. In his Heisman-winning season, Brown caught 34 passes for 846 yards and scored 8 touchdowns, while also returning kicks for additional scores. His all-around performance and contributions to the team earned him prestigious awards including the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, SN Player of the Year, UPI Player of the Year, and Unanimous All-American honor in 1987.

After concluding his collegiate career, he played in the NFL for the Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders from 1988 to 2003 and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.