Notre Dame Football: 1 Irish QB named to top-60 of the 2000s

The Notre Dame football program has had some solid quarterbacks since the turn of the new century, including the all-time winningest signal-caller in school history. Since 2000, the Irish have had the likes of Ian Book, Brady Quinn, Everett Golson, and Tommy Rees under center to name a few, not a bad list of quarterbacks by any means.

Throughout the last 20 years, the Irish have put together some remarkable seasons, going to the College Football Playoff twice, and a BCS National Championship Game. The Notre Dame football program has also played in numerous New Years Six bowl games, so you have to say that outside of winning a national title, it has been a pretty decent run.

Looking at the quarterbacks, Quinn and Book have been the best this century, and it is not even close. Recently, one of the two was named to ESPN’s list of the top-60 signal-callers (ESPN+) of the 2000s in college football.

Notre Dame Football star Brady Quinn named to list

Despite Book passing Quinn and company as the all-time winningest quarterback in program history, it was Quinn who landed on this list as the No. 43 overall quarterback in college football this century. A member of the program from 2003 through 2006, Quinn threw for nearly 12,000 yards in his Notre Dame career, connecting on over 90 touchdowns against only 39 interceptions.

Those are outstanding numbers, and not only did Quinn put up solid statistics, but he also masked how bad Charlie Weis was as a coach.

"We all thought Charlie Weis was a genius when he showed up in South Bend and Notre Dame immediately charged to its first top-10 finish in 12 years. Weis’ reputation fell apart pretty quickly, however, when Quinn ran out of eligibility."

After Quinn left following the 2006 college football season, the Irish went 3-9, 7-6, and 6-6 before Weis was replaced by Brian Kelly. In Quinn’s three full seasons as the starter, the Irish won 25 games, including a 19-6 record to close out his final two seasons in South Bend, a run that culminated with a loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.

Quinn is more than deserving to be put on this list, and his ranking is fair in my opinion. He was one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the Notre Dame football program, and while he did not have much success at the NFL level, his legacy with the Irish will never be forgotten.