Few college football programs can rival the legacy of producing five players selected with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Notre Dame is part of that ultra-elite group, trailing only USC (six) for the most No. 1 selections from a school in the history of the draft, which began in 1936.
The Fighting Irish’s top selections span 28 years, from wartime signal-callers to legendary Heisman Trophy winners, though it’s been over 50 years since the program’s last top selection.
The historic quintet became No. 1 overall picks after cementing iconic legacies in South Bend.
Angelo Bertelli, 1944
Quarterback Angelo Bertelli became the first Notre Dame player selected No. 1 overall when the Boston Yanks took him at the top of the 1944 NFL Draft.
Bertelli won the program’s first Heisman Trophy in 1943, orchestrating Frank Leahy’s T-formation offense.
Frank Dancewicz, 1946
Two years after Bertelli made history, quarterback Frank Dancewicz heard his name called first by the Boston Yanks in the 1946 NFL Draft.
Dancewicz took over under center during the demanding war years and served as a resilient leader for the Fighting Irish.
Leon Hart, 1950
Leon Hart became Notre Dame’s third No. 1 overall pick when the Detroit Lions selected him first in the 1950 NFL Draft.
Hart was a force on both sides of the ball, winning the 1949 Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award during an undefeated national championship season. He never lost a game during his four-year college career and won three national titles.
Paul Hornung, 1957
Halfback Paul Hornung became the fourth Fighting Irish player chosen No. 1 overall when the Green Bay Packers selected him at the top of the 1957 NFL Draft.
Known as the “Golden Boy,” Hornung won the 1956 Heisman Trophy while playing for a losing (2-8) team. The ultimate versatile athlete, he led Notre Dame in passing, rushing, scoring, kickoff returns and punting while also starring on defense.
Walt Patulski, 1972
Defensive end Walt Patulski became Notre Dame’s fifth No. 1 overall pick when the Buffalo Bills chose him first in the 1972 NFL Draft.
Patulski was a relentless pass rusher who anchored some of the stingiest defenses in Fighting Irish history, was a consensus All-American in 1971 as well as the Lombardi Award winner as the nation’s top lineman.
The 19-program club
Only 19 programs have produced two or more No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft. USC leads the way with six, most recently quarterback Caleb Williams in 2024.
Notre Dame is next with five, along with Georgia and Oklahoma. Auburn and Stanford have four. LSU, Miami, Ohio State and Texas java three.
Nine programs have had two No. 1 overall picks – Alabama, California, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
Here’s a look at the schools that have produced multiple No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft:
USC (6)
OT Ron Yary (1968), HB O.J. Simpson (1969), HB Ricky Bell (1977), WR Keyshawn Johnson (1996), QB Carson Palmer (2003), QB Caleb Williams (2024)
Georgia (5)
HB Frank Sinkwich (1943), HB Charley Trippi (1945), WR/DE Harry Babcock (1953), QB Matthew Stafford (2009), DE Travon Walker (2022)
Notre Dame (5)
QB Angelo Bertelli (1944), QB Frank Dancewicz (1946), WR/DE Leon Hart (1950), HB Paul Hornung (1957), DE Walt Patulski (1972)
Oklahoma (5)
DE Lee Roy Selmon (1976), HB Billy Sims (1980), QB Sam Bradford (2010), QB Baker Mayfield (2018), QB Kyler Murray (2019)
Auburn (4)
HB Tucker Frederickson (1965), HB Bo Jackson (1986), LB Aundray Bruce (1988), QB Cam Newton (2011)
Stanford (4)
QB Bobby Garrett (1954), QB Jim Plunkett (1971), QB John Elway (1983), QB Andrew Luck (2012)
LSU (3)
TE Billy Cannon (1960), QB JaMarcus Russell (2007), QB Joe Burrow (2020)
Miami (3)
QB Vinny Testaverde (1987), DL Russell Maryland (1991), QB Cam Ward (2025)
Ohio State (3)
LB Tom Cousineau (1979), DT Dan Wilkinson (1994), OT Orlando Pace (1997)
Texas (3)
LB Tommy Nobis (1966), HB Earl Campbell (1978), DE Kenneth Sims (1982)
Alabama (2)
HB Harry Gilmer (1948), QB Bryce Young (2023)
California (2)
QB Steve Bartkowski (1975), QB Jared Goff (2016)
Indiana (2)
FB Corbett Davis (1938), QB Fernando Mendoza (2026)
Michigan (2)
HB Tom Harmon (1941), OT Jake Long (2008)
Nebraska (2)
FB Sam Francis (1937), WR Irving Fryar (1984)
Penn State (2)
RB Ki-Jana Carter (1995), DE Courtney Brown (2000)
South Carolina (2)
RB George Rogers (1981), DE Jadeveon Clowney (2014)
Tennessee (2)
HB George Cafego (1940), Peyton Manning (1998)
Virginia Tech (2)
DE Bruce Smith (1985), QB Michael Vick (2001)
Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.