Last year when Ben Skowronek earned a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season playing for the Los Angeles Rams, he became the 46th former Notre Dame player that elusive goal. This year Ian Book, the third string QB in Philadelphia has a shot to become number 47.
Overall, many former Notre Dame players (and some former coaches) have had a storied and profound impact on the big game.
Three times a Fighting Irish alum has been named Super Bowl MVP and they are all the same guy. Joe Montana, who has four Super Bowl rings, earned the MVP distinction in 1982, 1985 and 1990. Montana, was 4-0 in Super Bowls and his legendary performances are well exemplified by what is now known in Super Bowl lore as “The Drive”.
In Super Bowl XXIV, with the 49ers trailing the Bengals 16-13 and 3:20 left in the game, Montana entered the huddle on first and 10 at his own eight-yard line. In order to calm his team, “Joe Cool” pointed into the stands and said, “Hey isn’t that John Candy?” The lighthearted reference to the popular comedian apparently worked because the 49ers, on 8-9 passing by Montana, went down the field and scored the winning points on a 14-yard pass to John Taylor. Montana, in his only Super bowl appearance in which he did not win the MVP, that day completed 23-36 for 357 yards and 2 TDs.
Other ND quarterbacks have played on Super Bowl winners. Joe Theismann ( ND 1968-70) led Washington to a win in 1983 over the Miami Dolphins. Theismann also led Washington to the Super Bowl the next season, but in a losing effort. Terry Hanratty (1966-68) took snaps in place of an injured Terry Bradshaw in Pittsburgh’s 1976 win and Steve Beuerlein (1983-86) took over for Troy Aikman late in Dallas’ win over Buffalo in 1993. Daryl Lamonica (1960-62) threw two TD passes in a losing effort to the Packers in Super Bowl II. Lamonica passed away last summer at the age of 80. Ian Book, the third string QB in Philadelphia, while unlikely to see action Sunday, has a chance to join the elite group.
Notre Dame quarterback from 1972-74 and national champion in 1973, Tom Clements also has earned a Super Bowl ring, but not as a player. Clements, who has enjoyed a long career coaching in the NFL was Aaron Rodgers’ quarterback coach when Green Bay defeated Pittsburgh in 2011.
One former Notre Dame assistant coach has gone on to win the championship as a head coach. In 1958 Hank Stram was an assistant on Terry Brennan’s staff in South Bend. In 1970 Stram led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl win over the Minnesota Vikings.
And of course, former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis had won four Super Bowl rings as a coach for the Patriots, before being named as the Notre Dame head coach in 2005.
Two Notre Dame alums participated in the first Super Bowl in 1967, a game won by Green Bay 35-10. Paul Hornung (1954-56) who was in the twilight of his career earned a ring but did not play due to an injury. Interestingly though was the special teams performance in the first ever Super Bowl of Bill “Red” Mack. Mack, an explosive and tough as nails running back, played at Notre Dame from 1957-60, and was on special teams for the Packers. Mack is credited with two tackles on the day and according to several sources, made the first tackle in Super Bowl history.
The $25,000 winners share the Packers got for winning the game back then was more than double the $12,000 Mack had received for the entire season. (The winner’s share today, btw, is $157,000. For more on Red Mack, go here Red Mack: The Toughest ND Player you Never Heard of, and my Coach).
Running back Ricky Watters (ND 1987-90) has scored the most touchdowns in the Super Bowl of any former Notre Dame Player. Watters has three and they all came during a 49-26 rout of the Chargers by the 49ers in 1995. He scored on pass receptions of 51 and 8 yards and a run of 9 yards.
Defensive end Ross Browner (1973-77), in a losing effort for the Bengals in 1990 set a Super Bowl record for most tackles by a defensive lineman with 10. One of those stops was a sack of his former teammate, Joe Montana.
Matching Montana’s four Super Bowl victories is Rocky Bleier (1965-1967). The former Notre Dame Captain and 1966 national champion, had a tremendous career as a fullback for the Steelers teaming up with Franco Harris. Blier won Super Bowl rings in 1975, 76, 79 and 80.
Steve Sylvester (1972-74), played tackle for the Oakland Raiders and won three rings, 1977, 81 and 84. Undoubtedly, they look nice next to the national championship ring he won in South Bend in 1973.
Linebacker Nick Buoniconti (1959-61) was a mainstay on the great Miami Dolphin team in 1972, the only NFL team to ever go undefeated. Buoniconti clinched the perfect season and a Super Bowl win with an interception in a 14-7 win over Washington.
Jerome Bettis (1990-92) finally won a ring in 2005 with the Steelers after a 13-year career. “The Bus” went out on top because he announced his retirement from the podium while holding the Lombardi Trophy immediately after the game. (For more on Jerome Bettis and his return to campus last year, go here: ND Football Legend returns to Campus)
With four rings and three MVPs to his credit Joe Montana is rightfully considered one of the greatest players in Super Bowl history. “Joe Cool” and his heroics however, are far from the only contributions Notre Dame has made to the world’s most watched sporting event.
In fact, in the 56-year history of the Super Bowl, many former Notre Dame players, and a couple coaches, have been front and center on “Super Sunday”.
Editor’s Note: This is a updated version of an article originally published in February, 2022