Notre Dame football legend, Heisman winner, Johnny Lujack dead at 98
Johnny Lujack, the Notre Dame quarterback who won three national titles with the Fighting Irish in the 1940s, died Tuesday at 98.
His granddaughter said Lujack entered hospice care recently, ESPN reported.
Lujack led Notre Dame to the championship as a sophomore in 1943, stepping in for Heisman winner Angelo Bertelli when Bertelli left the team for active duty in the Marine Corps for World War II following a 6-0 start.
Lujack himself served in the United States Navy for two years.
He returned to lead the team to the 1946 and 1947 titles, being named a unanimous All-American both years and winning the Heisman in the latter.
Lujack was the oldest living Heisman Trophy winner at the time of his death.
Lujack’s most famous play may have been a tackle in the “Game of the Century,” the 1946 matchup of No. 2 Notre Dame against No. 1 Army at Yankee Stadium.
The game ended in a scoreless tie, thanks to Lujack’s touchdown-saving tackle of Army Heisman-winner Doc Blanchard.
Lujack compiled a 21-1-1 record as Notre Dame’s quarterback.
He also played baseball, basketball and ran track while he attended the South Bend, Indiana school.
He played with the Chicago Bears from 1948-51, where he lead the NFL in passing yards (2,658) and touchdowns (23) in 1949.
In 1950, he led the league in rushing touchdowns (11).
Lujack was named to the Pro Bowl in 1950 and 1951, his final season, as he retired at 26 years old.
“Everything for me at Notre Dame was happenstance,” Lujack told UND.com in 1999. “If I played five years later, maybe people would not have even noticed that I was around. So I feel so fortunate about the timing and everything that came my way.”
He also returned to Notre Dame as an assistant coach to Frank Leahy in the early 1950s.
“Playing under Frank Leahy taught you so many important things: sacrifice, dedication, attitude, preparation, team concept,” Lujack said in 1999.
Lujack would be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1960.
He is survived by a daughter and son, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
His daughter Carol died in 2002 and his wife Patricia died in 2022.
