Hall of Fame
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1943, 1946-1947
Place of Birth: Connellsville, PA
Date of Birth: Jan 04, 1925
Place of Death: Naples, Fl
Date of Death: July 25, 2023
Jersey Number: 32
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
High School: Connellsville (Connellsville, PA)
Notre Dame in 1943, won its first six games by a combined score of 261-31. Angelo Bertelli was the quarterback, and on the basis of those six games, Bertelli won the 1943 Heisman Trophy. But after the sixth game, Bertelli and several other Notre Dame players were called to active duty with the Marine Corps in World War II.
John Lujack was Bertelli's replacement at quarterback. He led Notre Dame to important victories over Army 26-0 and Iowa Preflight 14-13, giving Lujack a role in his first of three national titles for Hall of Fame Coach Frank Leahy. In the school year of 1943-44, Lujack also lettered in basketball, baseball, and track, making him the first four-sport letterman at Notre Dame since 1912.
Lujack would serve in the Navy during World War II on a ship chasing German submarines in the English Channel. He returned after the war as the Notre Dame quarterback from 1946-47. Notre Dame went 17-0-1 in that period and won two more national championships.
Lujack was a unanimous All-America two years and won the Heisman in 1947. During his Heisman season, he passed for nine touchdowns and completed 61 passes for 777 yards while running 139 yards on 12 carries. The year ended with the Associated Press naming him as their Athlete of the Year. He also played defensive halfback, famously tackling future Hall of Famer Doc Blanchard, cutting off a sure Army touchdown, in a 1946 game, then dubbed the "Game of the Century," that ended 0-0 before a crowd of 76,000 at Yankee Stadium. His passing totals at Notre Dame 1946-47 included 14 touchdowns and 1,569 yards.
Lujack played for Chicago Bears 1948-51. Against the Chicago Cardinals in 1948, he threw six touchdown passes. He set a NFL record in 1950 with 11 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. After four years with the Chicago Bears, including two Pro Bowls, Lujack returned to Notre Dame to work as an assistant coach for two seasons.
Born Jan. 4, 1925, in Connellsville, PA, Lujack was a four-sport athlete in Connellsville High School, playing baseball and basketball as well as competing for the track and field team.
