Every former Notre Dame football player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

6 of 14

Aug 5, 2023; Canton, OH, USA; The busts of 2023 enshrinees including Zach Thomas, Ken Riley, DeMarcus Ware, Joe Klecko, Chuck Howley, Darrelle Revis, Don Coryell, Ronde Barber and Joe Thomas during the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

George Connor

A native of Chicago, George Connor played football at Holy Cross before serving in World War II back in the 1940s. He’d finish his career at Notre Dame and would be a two-time All-American and a two-time national champion with the Fighting Irish.

Connor played linebacker and on the offensive line and signed with his hometown Chicago Bears after his collegiate career came to an end. He’d spend his entire eight-year career with the Bears.

He’d spend several seasons as the Bears’ left tackle and several as an outside linebacker as well. Connor’s career was very productive, as he was named First Team All-Pro for four straight years in the early 1950s, making the Pro Bowl each season as well.

An early legend of the game, he didn’t win an NFL title and played just a single postseason game, but Connor was a major force on both sides of the line with the Bears, going down as one of the finest players in their early history under George Halas.

After retiring in 1955, Connor worked as an analyst and waited until 1975 when he got his call from the Hall of Fame. He lived in Chicago for most of his adult life and died back in 2003, securing his place in the long history of both the Chicago Bears and Notre Dame football.

Home/Notre Dame Football