List of Notre Dame Fighting Irish starting quarterbacks

Contents

The following individuals have started games at quarterback for the University of Notre Dame football team, updated through the 2025 season.

The year of induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, if applicable, is designated alongside the respective player's final season.

YearNameClassFirst career startNumber of startsRecord as starterAwards/honors
2025CJ CarrSo.August 311210–2
2024Riley LeonardSr.August 311614–2
2023Steve AngeliSo.December 2911–0
Sam HartmanSr.August 26129–3
2022Drew PyneJr.September 17108–2
Tyler BuchnerSo.September 331–2
2021Jack CoanSr.September 51311–2
2020Ian BookSr.1210–2
2019Ian BookSr.1311–2
2018Brandon WimbushSr.44–0
Ian BookJr.98–1
2017Brandon WimbushJr.September 2129–3
Ian BookSo.October 611–0
2016DeShone KizerSo.124–8
2015DeShone KizerFr.September 19118–3
Malik ZaireJr.22–0
2014Everett GolsonSr.127–5
Malik ZaireSo.December 3011–0
2013Tommy ReesSr.139–4
2012Tommy ReesJr.22–0
Everett GolsonSo.September 11110–1
2011Tommy ReesSo.128–4
Dayne CristSr.10–1
2010Tommy ReesFr.November 1344–0
Dayne CristJr.September 494–5
2009Jimmy ClausenJr.126–6AA
2008Jimmy ClausenSo.137–6
2007Evan SharpleyJr.October 2020–2
Jimmy ClausenFr.September 893–6
Demetrius JonesSo.September 110–1
2006Brady QuinnSr.1310–3AA, Unitas, Maxwell
2005Brady QuinnJr.129–3AA, Baugh
2004Brady QuinnSo.126–6
2003Brady QuinnFr.September 2794–5
Carlyle HolidaySr.31–2
2002Pat DillinghamSo.October 511–0
Carlyle HolidayJr.129–3
2001Carlyle HolidaySo.September 2995–4
Matt LoVecchioSo.20–2
2000Matt LoVecchioFr.October 787–1
Gary GodseySo.September 1621–1
Arnaz BattleJr.September 221–1
1999Jarious JacksonSr.125–7
1998Eric ChappellJr.November 2810–1
Jarious JacksonJr.September 5119–2
1997Ron PowlusSr.137–6
1996Ron PowlusJr.118–3
1995Tom KrugJr.November 1821–1
Ron PowlusSo.108–2
1994Ron PowlusFr.September 3126–5–1
1993Paul FaillaJr.11–0
Kevin McDougalSr.September 41110–1
1992Rick MirerSr.1210–1–1AA
1991Paul FaillaFr.September 2811–0
Rick MirerJr.129–3
1990Rick MirerSo.September 15129–3
1989Tony RiceSr.1312–1AA, Unitas
1988Tony RiceJr.1212–0
1987Kent GrahamFr.November 711–0
Tony RiceSo.October 1764–2
Terry AndrysiakSr.53–2
1986Terry AndrysiakJr.10–1
Steve BeuerleinSr.105–5
1985Terry AndrysiakSo.November 911–0
Steve BeuerleinJr.104–6
1984Scott GroomsSr.October 1310–1
Steve BeuerleinSo.117–4
1983Steve BeuerleinFr.October 185–3
Blair KielSr.42–2
1982Jim O'HaraSr.November 2010–1
Ken KarcherSo.November 1310–1
Blair KielJr.96–2–1
1981Tim KoegelSr.41–3
Blair KielSo.74–3
1980Blair KielFr.October 1196–2–1
Mike CoureySr.33–0
1979Mike CoureyJr.November 2411–0
Tim KoegelSo.September 2210–1
Rusty LischSr.96–3
1978Joe MontanaSr.129–3
1977Joe MontanaJr.1010–0
Rusty LischJr.21–1
1976Rusty LischSo.November 2021–1
Rick SlagerSr.108–2
1975Joe MontanaSo.October 431–2
Rick SlagerJr.September 1587–1
1974Tom ClementsSr.1210–2AA
1973Tom ClementsJr.1111–0
1972Tom ClementsSo.September 23118–3
1971Cliff BrownSo.October 1664–2
Bill EtterJr.October 222–0
Pat SteenbergeSr.September 1822–0
1970Joe TheismannSr.1110–1AA, CFHOF (2003)
1969Joe TheismannJr.118–2–1
1968Joe TheismannSo.November 932–0–1
Terry HanrattySr.75–2AA
1967Terry HanrattyJr.108–2Baugh
1966Coley O'BrienSo.November 2611–0
Terry HanrattySo.September 2498–0–1AA
1965Tom SchoenSo.October 911–0
William J. ZlochSr.September 1896–2–1
1964John HuarteSr.109–1AA, Heisman, CFHOF (2005)
1963Sandy BonvechioJr.November 1620–2
Frank BudkaSr.52–3
John HuarteJr.October 510–1
Denis SzotSr.10–1
1962Denis SzotJr.October 640–4
Daryle LamonicaSr.65–1AA
1961Frank BudkaSo.November 1142–2
Daryle LamonicaJr.63–3
1960Daryle LamonicaSo.November 1231–2
George HaffnerJr.September 2471–6
1959George IzoSr.63–3
Don WhiteSr.September 2642–2
1958George IzoJr.November 153–2
Robert WilliamsSr.53–2
1957Robert WilliamsJr.107–3
1956Robert WilliamsSo.December 110–1
Paul HornungSr.92–7AA, Heisman, Harley, CFHOF (1985)
1955Paul HornungJr.September 24108–2
1954Tom CareySr.
Ralph GuglielmiSr.AA, CFHOF (2001)
1953Ralph GuglielmiJr.
1952Tom CareySo.
Ralph GuglielmiSo.
1951Ralph GuglielmiFr.
John MazurSr.
1950John MazurJr.
Bob WilliamsSr.AA, CFHOF (1988)
1949Bob WilliamsJr.AA
1948Frank TripuckaSr.
1947Johnny LujackSr.AA, Heisman, CFHOF (1960)
1946Johnny LujackJr.AA
1945Frank DancewiczSr.AA
1944Frank DancewiczJr.
1943Johnny LujackFr.November 643–1
Angelo BertelliSr.66–0AA, Heisman, CFHOF (1972)
1942Angelo BertelliJr.AA
1941Angelo Bertelli[1]So.
Harry WrightJr.
1940Bob HargraveJr.
1939Steve SitkoSr.
1938Steve SitkoJr.
1937Andy PuplisSr.
1936Andy PuplisJr.
1935Wally FromhartSr.
1934Wally FromhartJr.
Bud BonarSr.
1933Bud BonarJr.
1932Chuck JaskwhichSr.
1931Chuck JaskwhichJr.
1930Frank CarideoSr.October 41010–0AA, CFHOF (1954)
1929Frank CarideoJr.AA
1928Frank CarideoSo.
Jim BradySr.
1927Jim BradyJr.
Chuck RileySr.
1926Chuck RileyJr.
Red EdwardsSr.
1925Albert Cullen
Red EdwardsJr.
1924Red EdwardsSo.
Harry StuhldreherSr.AA, CFHOF (1958)
1923Harry StuhldreherJr.September 30109–1
1922Harry StuhldreherSo.
Frank ThomasSr.CFHOF (1951)
1921Chet GrantSr.September 241110–1
1920Joe BrandySr.October 299–0
1919Leonard BahanSr.October 499–0
1918Bill MohnSr.September 2863–1–2
1917Bill AllisonJr.October 27
James PhelanSr.CFHOF (1973)
1916James PhelanJr.September 3098–1
1915James PhelanSo.October 287–1
1914Alfred BergmanSr.October 386–2
1913Gus DoraisSr.October 477–0AA, CFHOF (1954)
1912Gus DoraisJr.October 577–0
1911Gus DoraisSo.October 786–0–2
1910Gus DoraisFr.October 864–1–1
1909Don HamiltonSo.October 987–0–1
1908Don HamiltonFr.October 398–1
1907Billy RyanFr.October 1276–0–1
1906Bob BrackenSr.October 676–1
1905Nate SilverSr.September 3095–4
1904Dick CoadFr.October 2711–0
Nate SilverJr.October 174–3
1903Nate SilverSo.October 398–0–1
1902Henry J. McGlewJr.September 2796–2–1
1901Henry J. McGlewSo.September 28108–1–1
1900Clarence DieboldFr.September 29106–3–1
1899Angus Daniel McDonaldSr.September 27108–1–1
1898Charles FlemingJr.October 864–2
1897Fred WatersFr.October 1364–1–1
1896Frank E. HeringJr.October 874–3
1895William A. WalshSr.October 1943–1
1894Nicholas DinkelSr.October 1353–1–1
1893Charles ZeitlerJr.October 2554–1
1892Pat CoadySr.October 1921–0–1
1889Ed CoadySr.11–0
1888Ed CoadyJr.December 611–0
Joe CusackJr.April 2020–2
1887George CartierSo.November 2310–1

Win–loss records

Quarterbacks who have started for Notre Dame from 1972 through 2025. A player is credited with a win if he started the game and the team won that game, no matter if the player was injured or permanently removed on the second play from scrimmage.

QuarterbackJersey No.Games startedWinsLossesTiesWinning pct.
CJ Carr13121020.833
Riley Leonard13161420.875
Steve Angeli1811001.000
Sam Hartman1012930.750
Drew Pyne1010820.800
Tyler Buchner123120.333
Jack Coan17131120.846
Ian Book12353050.857
Brandon Wimbush7161330.813
DeShone Kizer142312110.521
Malik Zaire822001.000
Everett Golson5191760.739
Tommy Rees11, 13312380.742
Dayne Crist1010460.400
Jimmy Clausen73416180.471
Evan Sharpley132020.000
Demetrius Jones31010.000
Brady Quinn104629170.630
Carlyle Holiday7241590.625
Pat Dillingham911001.000
Matt LoVecchio1010730.700
Gary Godsey142110.500
Arnaz Battle32110.500
Jarious Jackson7231490.609
Eric Chappell81010.000
Ron Powlus34629161.641
Tom Krug112110.500
Paul Failla522001.000
Kevin McDougal15111010.909
Rick Mirer3362871.792
Tony Rice9312830.903
Kent Graham1711001.000
Terry Andrysiak27430.571
Steve Beuerlein73921180.537
Scott Grooms101010.000
Blair Kiel5291892.638
Jim O'Hara61010.000
Ken Karcher121010.000
Tim Koegel145140.200
Mike Courey244001.000
Rusty Lisch613850.615
Joe Montana3252050.800
Rick Slager11181530.833
Tom Clements2342950.853

Most starts

These quarterbacks have the 25 or more starts for Notre Dame since 1960.

NamePeriodStartsWinsLossesTiesWin %
1Ron Powlus1994–19974629161.641
1Brady Quinn2003–20064629170.630
3Steve Beuerlein1983–19863921180.537
4Rick Mirer1990–1992362871.792
5Ian Book2017–2020353050.857
6Tom Clements1972–1974342950.853
6Jimmy Clausen2007–20093416180.471
8Tony Rice1987–1989312830.903
8Tommy Rees2010–2013312380.742
10Blair Kiel1980–1983291892.655
11Terry Hanratty1966–1968262141.827
12Joe Theismann1968–1970252032.840
12Joe Montana1975–1978252050.800

References

  1. 1.Technically, the starting QB throughout 1941 was Harry Wright (who eventually moved to guard). However, for the first time, new head coach Frank Leahy implemented the T formation, in which the QB exclusively took the snap from the center and directed the passing offense. Therefore, HB Bertelli assumed the "modern" role of QB, whereas Wright (as well as most other QBs during the 1930s) was utilized primarily as a blocker and receiver, akin to the modern fullback.