Former Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is starting to make his mark in the NFL with his new team. Leonard was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and as a rookie, he is battling Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones for the starting role.
Leonard has been working hard in training camp, and Fanatics decided to pull him and a bunch of the other rookies in for a special surprise. The famous sports apparel company surprised a number of rookies, Leonard included, with a message from an NFL legend. Leonard has the pleasure of being surprised by a legendary NFL quarterback, Joe Montana.
Montana played in the NFL for 16 years, was a four-time Super Bowl Champion, a three-time Super Bowl MVP, a two-time NFL MVP, NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1989, NFL Co-Comeback Player of the Year in 1986, an eight-time Pro-Bowler, two-time passing yards leader, is a part of the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-time Team, a part of the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame, a part of the NFL Hall of Fame and won a National Championship at Notre Dame.
Before they were legends, they were rookies.
— Fanatics (@Fanatics) August 5, 2025
We welcomed the rookie class to the @NFL with a special surprise from some of the game's biggest stars. pic.twitter.com/6m98AOMupP
Montana's accolades are long, and there are even more than what is listed above, so to have such a legendary quarterback, who also played at Notre Dame before going to the NFL, give advice about being a rookie in the league is pretty awesome.
There were numerous famous legendary players to send wishes to the rookies and to remind them that they were once rookies too. Hopefully, this message from Montana is even more motivation for Leonard to continue working hard in training camp adn striving to become the starter for the Colts. Leonard even received a signed Montana jersey, something he will be able to cherish forever.