List of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football captains

Since 1887, 246 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players have earned the distinction of team captain.[1][2][3]

Dr. Henry Luhn established the role of football captain in 1887, followed by the first two-year captain in Edward Prudhomme.

There are 27 players who have earned the distinction of captain twice: Edward Prudhomme (1888–89); Frank Keough (1893–94); Louis "Red" Salmon (1902–03); Leonard Bahan (1918–19); Pat Filley (1943–44); Bob Olson (1968–69); Willie Fry (1976–77); Bob Crable (1980–81); Phil Carter (1981–82); Ned Bolcar (1988–89); Ryan Leahy (1994–95); Ron Powlus (1996–97); Grant Irons (2000–01); Brady Quinn (2005–06); Travis Thomas (2006–07); Tom Zbikowski (2006–07); Maurice Crum Jr. (2007–08); Zack Martin (2012–13); Sheldon Day (2014–15); Nick Martin (2014–15); Mike McGlinchey (2016–17); Drue Tranquill (2017–18); Ian Book (2019–20); Robert Hainsey (2019–20); Avery Davis (2021–22); Jarrett Patterson (2021–22); JD Bertrand (2022–23).

Jack Mullen is the only Notre Dame player to be chosen as team captain three times, leading the Fighting Irish from 1897 through the 1899 season.

The first duo-captains were Gene "Red" Edwards and Tom Hearden during the 1926 season, and the first trio was chosen in 1973 with Dave Casper, Frank Pomarico, and Mike Townsend. The number of captains per season has increased steadily since the 1967 season, and the current record was eight in 2017. The last solo captain was Harrison Smith in 2011.

Four captains would eventually become head coaches for the Fighting Irish football team. These men were Frank Hering (1896–98), Louis "Red" Salmon (1904), Knute Rockne (1918–30), and Hugh Devore (1945, 1963).

Many of the captains have also received other honors during their collegiate careers. The list includes at least seventy-seven players who were selected to All-America teams, twenty-five consensus All-Americans, and seven that were selected unanimously. Nineteen have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.[4] A collection of other awards, the Lombardi (5), Maxwell (4), UPI Lineman of the year (4), Outland (3), Unitas (2), SN Player of the Year, Jim Parker, Sammy Baugh, John Mackay, Bronko Nagurski, Lott, Butkus, Bednarick, Walter Camp, and Wuerffel have also been won at least once.

Nine captains have been finalists for the Heisman Trophy a combined eleven times, including Allen Pinkett in 1983 (16th), Walt Patulski in 1971 (9th), Ian Book in 2020 (9th), Allen Pinkett in 1985 (8th), Frank Dancewicz in 1945 (6th), Ross Browner in 1977 (5th), Vagas Ferguson in 1979 (5th), Tom Clements in 1974 (4th), Tony Rice in 1989 (4th), Brady Quinn in 2005 (4th) and 2006 (3rd), and Manti Te'o in 2012 (2nd). Leon Hart finished atop the rankings in 1949 and became the only captain to win the Heisman.

There were at least four captains who were chosen by their peers to represent the Fighting Irish in the next football season, but were unable to perform their duty for a variety of reasons. Bill Walsh was elected to the distinction in 1896 after leading the Irish as starting quarterback in the previous season, but turned it down to enter Georgetown Law School. George Gipp was originally elected to be captain of the football team in 1920, but Knute Rockne suspended him in March because of what he stated as missing too many classes, while other reports speculated that he had been caught at an off-limits nightclub.[5] In March 1935, captain-elect Joe Sullivan died of pneumonia, and as a result no captain acting in any capacity represented the Irish on the field that season. Moreover, an award in his name was donated by the Notre Dame club of New York to the interhall football program to serve as their season's championship trophy.[6] Bill Smith was intended to become captain of the 1936 team, but was forced to drop football after a doctor deemed him unfit to play, with John Lautar filling his place as an acting captain. Of the four, only Smith and Sullivan are given recognition on the official list of Notre Dame captains, although a footnote below each season explains their unique circumstances.

List of Captains of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
Year Name Position College Awards
1887 Henry Luhn HB
1888 Edward Prudhomme FB
1889 Edward Prudhomme (2) FB
1892 Pat Coady QB
1893 Frank Keough HB
1894 Frank Keough (2) HB
1895 Dan Casey G
1896 Frank Hering QB
1897 Jack Mullen E
1898 Jack Mullen (2) E
1899 Jack Mullen (3) E
1900 John Farley FB
1901 Al Fortin E/T
1902 Louis "Red" Salmon FB AA (1903), CFHOF (1971)
1903 Louis "Red" Salmon (2) FB AA (1903), CFHOF (1971)
1904 Frank Shaughnessy E
1905 Pat Beacom G
1906 Bob Bracken QB
1907 Dom Callicrate HB
1908 Harry Miller HB/C
1909 Cap Edwards G/T
1910 Ralph Dimmick T
1911 Luke Kelly T
1912 Gus Dorais QB Consensus AA (1913), CFHOF (1954)
1913 Knute Rockne E AA (1913), National Champions (1924, 1929, 1930 as coach), CFHOF (1951),
1914 Keith Jones G/T
1915 Freeman Fitzgerald G AA (1915)
1916 Stan Cofall HB AA (1916)
1917 Jim Phelan QB CFHOF (1973)
1918 Leonard Bahan HB
1919 Leonard Bahan (2) QB
1920 Frank Coughlin T
1921 Eddie Anderson E Consensus AA (1921), CFHOF (1971)
1922 Glen Carberry E
1923 Harvey Brown G
1924 Adam Walsh C AA (1924), national champion (1924)
1925 Clem Crowe E National champion (1924)
1926 Gene "Red" Edwards QB National champion (1924)
Tom Hearden HB
1927 John "Clipper" Smith G Consensus AA (1927), CFHOF (1975)
1928 Fred Miller T AA (1928), CFHOF (1985)
1929 John Law G National champion (1929)
1930 Tom Conley E National champions (1929, 1930)
1931 Tommy Yarr C National champions (1929, 1930), Consensus AA (1931), CFHOF (1987)
1932 Paul Host E
1933 Hugh Devore E AA (1933)
Tom Gorman C National champion (1930)
1934 Dom Vairo DE
1935 Joe Sullivan E/T
1936 Bill Smith G
John Lautar G
1937 Joe Zwers E
1938 Jim McGoldrick G
1939 Johnny Kelly E
1940 Milt Piepul FB AA (1939–1940),
1941 Paul Lillis T
1942 George Murphy E
1943 Pat Filley G/T Consensus AA (1943), national champion (1943)
1944 Pat Filley (2) G/T Consensus AA (1943), national champion (1943)
1945 Frank Dancewicz QB National champion (1943), AA (1945), Heisman finalist (1945, 6th)
1946 Game-by-Game
1947 George Connor LB/T AA (1943), Outland Trophy (1946), consensus AA (1946–1947), national champion (1946–1947), CFHOF (1963)
1948 Bill Fischer T/G/DT national champions (1946–1947), Consensus AA (1947–1948), Outland Trophy (1948), CFHOF (1983)
1949 Leon Hart E National champions (1946, 1947, 1949), AA (1947), Consensus AA (1948–1949), Heisman Trophy (1949),
Maxwell Award (1949), Sporting News Player of the Year (1949), CFHOF (1973)
Jim Martin T National champions (1946, 1947, 1949), AA (1949), CFHOF (1995)
1950 Jerry Groom C/LB National champion (1949), Consensus AA (1950), CFHOF (1994)
1951 Jim Mutscheller DE/TE National champion (1949), AA (1951)
1952 Jack Alessandrini G/LB
1953 Don Penza E
1954 Paul Matz E
Dan Shannon E
1955 Ray Lemek G/T
1956 Jim Morse HB
1957 Dick Prendergast E
Ed Sullivan C
1958 Al Ecuyer G Consensus AA (1957)
Chuck Puntillo T
1959 Ken Adamson G
1960 Myron Pottios G AA (1960)
1961 Nick Buoniconti G/T AA (1961)
Norb Roy G
1962 Mike Lind FB
1963 Bob Lehmann G
1964 Jim Carroll LB AA (1964)
1965 Phil Sheridan E
1966 Jim Lynch LB National champion (1966), Maxwell Award (1966), unanimous AA (1966), CFHOF (1992)
1967 Rocky Bleier HB National champion (1966)
1968 George Kunz T National champion (1966), Consensus AA (1968)
Bob Olson LB Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP (1970)
1969 Bob Olson (2) LB Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP (1970)
Mike Oriard C/G
1970 Larry DiNardo G Consensus AA (1970)
Tim Kelly LB
1971 Thom Gatewood SE Consensus AA (1970), CFHOF (2015)
Walt Patulski DE Consensus AA (1971), Lombardi Award (1971), UPI Lineman of the Year (1971), Heisman finalist (1971, 6th)
1972 John Dampeer T
Greg Marx DE/T Consensus AA (1972)
1973 Dave Casper TE Consensus AA (1973), national champion (1973), CFHOF (2012)
Frank Pomarico G
Mike Townsend DB/FS Consensus AA (1973), national champion (1973)
1974 Tom Clements QB National champion (1973), AA (1974), Heisman finalist (1974, 4th)
Greg Collins LB National champion (1973), AA (1974)
1975 Ed Bauer T
Jim Stock LB
1976 Mark McLane HB
Willie Fry DE AA (1977), National champion (1977)
1977 Ross Browner DE National champions (1973, 1977), Outland Trophy (1976), Unanimous AA (1976–1977),
UPI Lineman of the Year (1976–1977), Heisman finalist (1977, 5th), Lombardi Award (1977), CFHOF (1999)
Terry Eurick HB
Willie Fry (2) DE AA (1977), National champion (1977)
Steve Orsini RB
1978 Bob Golic DT/LB AA (1927), National champion (1977), Unanimous AA (1978)
Jerome Heavens FB National champion (1977)
Joe Montana QB National champion (1977), Cotton Bowl MVP (1979)
1979 Vagas Ferguson HB National champion (1977), Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP (1978), Consensus AA (1979), Heisman finalist (1979, 5th)
Tim Foley T National champion (1977), AA (1979)
Dave Waymer FS/CB National champion (1977)
1980 Bob Crable LB Consensus AA (1980–1981), CFHOF (2017)
Tom Gibbons FS
John Scully C
1981 Phil Carter TB
Bob Crable (2) LB Consensus AA (1980–1981), CFHOF (2017)
1982 Phil Carter (2) TB
Dave Duerson FS AA (1981–1982), Team MVP (1982), Edward "Moose" Krause Distinguished Service Award (1990)
Mark Zavagnin LB
1983 Blair Kiel QB
Stacey Toran CB/S
1984 Mike Golic LB/DT
Joe Johnson WR/SS
Larry Williams G AA (1984)
1985 Tony Furjanic LB
Mike Larkin LB
Allen Pinkett TB AA (1983), Heisman finalist (1983, 16th), Heisman finalist (1985, 8th)
Tim Scannell G
1986 Mike Kovaleski LB
1987 Chuck Lanza C AA (1987)
Byron Spruell T
1988 Ned Bolcar LB AA (1987, 1989), National champion (1988)
Mark Green TB National champion (1988)
Andy Heck T AA (1988), National champion (1988)
1989 Ned Bolcar (2) LB AA (1987, 1989), National champion (1988)
Anthony Johnson FB National champion (1988)
Tony Rice QB National champion (1988), AA (1989), Heisman finalist (1989, 4th), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (1989)
1990 Mike Heldt C
Todd Lyght CB National champion (1988), Consensus AA (1989–1990)
Ricky Watters RB National champion (1988)
Chris Zorich DT AA (1988), National champion (1988), Consensus AA (1989), UPI Lineman of the Year (1989),
Lombardi Award (1990), Unanimous AA (1990), Orange Bowl Defensive MVP (1991), CFHOF (2007)
1991 Rodney Culver TB National champion (1988)
1992 Demetrius Debose LB
Rick Mirer QB Team MVP (1992)
1993 Jeff Buris DB Consensus AA (1993)
Tim Ruddy C AA (1993)
Aaron Taylor G/T Consensus AA (1992–1993), Jim Parker Award (1993), Lombardi Award (1993)
Bryant Young DT AA (1993)
1994 Lee Becton TB
Justin Goheen LB
Brian Hamilton DE
Ryan Leahy OG
1995 Paul Grasmanis DL
Ryan Leahy (2) OG
Derrick Mayes WR/SE
Shawn Wooden S/CB
Dusty Zeigler C/OG
1996 Lyron Cobbins LB AA (1996)
Marc Edwards FB
Ron Powlus QB
1997 Melvin Dansby DE
Ron Powlus (2) QB
Allen Rossum CB
1998 Bobbie Howard LB
Kory Minor LB
Mike Rosenthal OT AA (1998)
1999 Jarious Jackson QB
2000 Anthony Denman LB AA (2000), Team MVP (2000)
Jabari Holloway TE
Grant Irons DE
Dan O'Leary TE
2001 Rocky Boiman LB
David Givens FL
Grant Irons (2) DE
Anthony Weaver DE Team MVP (2001)
2002 Arnaz Battle WR
Sean Mahan OG Team MVP (2002)
Gerome Sapp S
Shane Walton S/CB Unanimous AA (2002)
2003 Darrell Campbell DT
Vontez Duff CB
Omar Jenkins WR
Jim Molinaro OT
2004 Mike Goolsby OL
Ryan Grant RB
Carlyle Holiday WR
Justin Tuck DE
2005 Brandon Hoyte LB
Brady Quinn QB Heisman finalist (2005, 4th), Sammy Baugh Trophy (2005), AA (2006),
Heisman finalist (2006, 3rd), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (2006), Maxwell Award (2006)
2006 Brady Quinn (2) QB Heisman finalist (2005, 4th), Sammy Baugh Trophy (2005), AA (2006),
Heisman finalist (2006, 3rd), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (2006), Maxwell Award (2006)
Travis Thomas HB
Tom Zbikowski S AA (2005-2006)
2007 John Carlson TE AA (2006)
Maurice Crum Jr. DL Team Defensive MVP (2008)
John Sullivan C
Travis Thomas (2) HB
Tom Zbikowski (2) S AA (2005-2006)
2008 David Bruton S
Maurice Crum Jr. (2) DL Team Defensive MVP (2008)
David Grimes WR
2009 Jimmy Clausen QB AA (2009)
Kyle McCarthy S
Eris Olsen G
Scott Smith LB
2010 Game-by-Game
2011 Harrison Smith S
2012 Tyler Eifert TE AA (2012), John Mackey Award (2012)
Kapron Lewis-Moore DE
Zack Martin G AA (2012), Pinstripe Bowl MVP (2013)
Manti Te'o LB AA (2010-2011), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2012), Butkus Award (2012), Chuck Bednarik Award (2012), Heisman finalist (2012, 2nd),
Lombardi Award (2012), Lott Trophy (2012), Maxwell Award (2012), Walter Camp Award (2012), Unanimous AA (2012)
2013 Bennett Jackson S
T. J. Jones WR
Zack Martin (2) G AA (2012), Pinstripe Bowl MVP (2013)
2014 Austin Collinsworth S
Sheldon Day DT AA (2015)
Nick Martin OG
Cam McDaniel RB
2015 Sheldon Day (2) DT AA (2015)
Matthias Farley S
Nick Martin (2) OG
Joe Schmidt LB
Jaylon Smith LB AA (2014), Consensus AA (2015), Dick Butkus Award (2015)
2016 Torii Hunter Jr. WR
Mike McGlinchey OT Consensus AA (2017)
James Onwualu LB
Isaac Rochell DE
2017 Josh Adams RB
DeShone Kizer QB
Greer Martini LB
Mike McGlinchey (2) OT Consensus AA (2017)
Nyles Morgan LB
Quenton Nelson OG Unanimous AA (2017)
Drue Tranquill LB Wuerffel Trophy (2018)
Austin Webster WR
2018 Alex Bars OL
Sam Mustipher C
Tyler Newsome P
Drue Tranquill (2) LB Wuerffel Trophy (2018)
2019 Ian Book QB All-ACC (2020), Heisman finalist (2020, 9th)
Jalen Elliott S
Chris Finke WR
Alohi Gilman S
Robert Hainsey OL
Khalid Kareem DE
Julian Okwara DE
2020 Ian Book (2) QB All-ACC (2020), Heisman finalist (2020, 9th)
Shaun Crawford S
Robert Hainsey (2) OL
Daelin Hayes LB
Adetokunbo Ogundeji LB
2021 Avery Davis WR
Kyle Hamilton S All-ACC (2020), Consensus AA (2021)
Kurt Hinish NT
Jarrett Patterson C
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa DE All-ACC (2020)
Drew White LB
Kyren Williams RB ACC Rookie of the year (2020)
2022 Bo Bauer LB
JD Bertrand LB
Avery Davis (2) WR
Isaiah Foskey DE Consensus AA (2022)
Michael Mayer TE Consensus AA (2022)
Jarrett Patterson (2) C
2023 Joe Alt OL AA (2022)
JD Bertrand (2) LB
Cam Hart CB
Sam Hartman QB
2024 Jack Kiser LB
Riley Leonard QB
Rylie Mills DL
Benjamin Morrison CB
Xavier Watts S

Game captains

No permanent captains were selected during the 1946 and 2010 seasons. Head coaches Frank Leahy (1946) and Brian Kelly (2010) chose a new captain for each game in their respective seasons. Game captains were also selected during the 2002 season under Tyrone Willingham, but four permanent captains were eventually selected at the end of the season.

References

  1. ^ Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. August 10, 2019 https://und.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-Football-Media-Guide.pdf. Retrieved January 26, 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ "2011 Notre Dame Football Media Guide". Issuu. August 4, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. ^ "Irish Name Seven Captains For Gridiron". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. August 10, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "BlueAndGold - Irish captains through the years". notredame.rivals.com. August 18, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  5. ^ "George Gipp: Person, pictures and information - Fold3.com". Fold3. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. ^ "To Present Trophy". The Courier-Journal. November 16, 1935. p. 14. Retrieved October 19, 2020.