Last Notre Dame Football Player to Win the Heisman Trophy

Notre Dame football is no stranger to Heisman Trophies.. In fact, Notre Dame was actually tied for the most Heisman winners of any college football program until Caleb Williams put USC over the top in 2022.  

So yes, Notre Dame’s Heisman history is quite rich. But as is often true for the Irish, history can be a loaded word. Much of that success was multiple generations ago, scattered across the opening decades of the 20th century.

This season, Notre Dame football odds are quite relevant across the entire college football futures landscape. The Fighting Irish have been one of the most popular national championship bets all year – including the preseason – thanks in part to Notre Dame’s memorandum of understanding with the College Football Playoff committee.

In the Heisman race specifically, quarterback CJ Carr has been a popular bet throughout the season, attracting major attention as the leader of a team that’s been pegged for playoff contention from the open of the 2026 markets all the way back in January. 

If Carr wins the award, it’ll be the first time a Notre Dame player has claimed it in more than 30 years.

Last Notre Dame Football Player to Win the Heisman Trophy

The last Notre Dame football player to win the Heisman Trophy was Irish wide receiver Tim Brown, who won the award in 1987. 

Brown – known to Notre Dame fans as “Touchdown Timmy” finished the season with 990 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns. Most of that was through the air – he had 39 catches for 846 yards and three scores. He also returned punts and kickoffs, averaging 20 yards per kick return and 12 yards per punt return during his senior season when he won the Heisman.

Brown is the only Notre Dame player to win the Heisman Trophy since 1964. Six of Notre Dame’s seven Heisman winners played between 1940 and 1965.