Notre Dame football has been one of the greatest programs throughout the history of the sport. The Fighting Irish have won championships, played in some all-time classic games, and had some amazing players in their program.
Not only has Notre Dame seen some incredible athletes come through their football program, but many of those stars have gone on to success in the NFL. Notre Dame has produced hundreds of NFL athletes over the last century.
The NFL is in the news recently with the season set to begin very shortly, opened up by the recent Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. It should be an exciting football season, for both college and the pros, and it brings up another great point about Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish have 14 alumni in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is tied for the most with USC. Star players in multiple eras on both sides of the ball have become legends of the game after starting their careers at Notre Dame.
Today we’re going to be taking a few moments to look back at each of those players, focusing mostly on what made them Hall of Famers in football lore. All of them starred at Notre Dame, with some starring more than half a century ago, and all of them deserved that enshrinement.
Before we actually begin those breakdowns, it’s important to note a special inclusion. Edward DeBartolo Jr., the former owner of the San Francisco 49ers, is a graduate of Notre Dame who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016 as a contributor. The rest of these names all played football with the Fighting Irish and starred in the NFL.