5 Best Notre Dame NFL Players
Few programs carry as much history as Notre Dame. These five players are ranked on their time in South Bend, where a single season can turn a name into a legend.
1. Tim Brown
Wide Receiver · 1984 to 1987
Brown won the 1987 Heisman and was the first wide receiver to do it. He was a threat on every snap, whether lined up wide, taking a reverse, or fielding a kick. He piled up over 5,000 all purpose yards and made big plays in every phase.
2. Joe Montana
Quarterback · 1975 to 1978
Montana never won a college award of note, but he built a reputation for comebacks that followed him for life. The Chicken Soup Game against Houston, played in an ice storm with the flu, ended with a 23 point rally and a national title season before it. He was calm when nothing else was.
3. Ross Browner
Defensive End · 1973 to 1977
Browner won the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award and finished with 340 tackles and 28 sacks. He was part of two national title teams and made the defensive line a strength for years. Very few Irish defenders have matched his résumé.
4. Raghib Ismail
Wide Receiver and Returner · 1988 to 1990
Rocket earned the nickname honestly. He averaged over 22 yards per catch and took back kicks like the field was tilted. Opponents kicked away from him and he still found ways to flip games in a few seconds.
5. Manti Te'o
Linebacker · 2009 to 2012
Te'o finished second in the 2012 Heisman voting after 113 tackles and seven interceptions. He swept the major defensive awards that year and led an Irish team to an undefeated regular season. As a college linebacker he was as complete as they come.
The Deep Bench
Alan Page, Jerome Bettis, Aaron Taylor, and Quenton Nelson all have strong claims. Page in particular had a monster pro career after a decorated run in South Bend. This list leaned toward college awards and moments that defined seasons.
History That Follows the Jersey
Notre Dame plays a national independent schedule, so its stars get seen everywhere. That visibility has always helped Irish players on draft night. It also raises the bar, because every performance is measured against decades of names on the wall.
Test Yourself on Notre Dame Players
Reading about them is one thing. Naming them on sight is another. CollegeGuessr shows you an NFL player and asks which college he came from. Build a streak, post your score on the Big Board, and see how your football knowledge holds up.