By Darin Angelo Bertelli commands the gridiron with unmatched precision, transforming the Notre Dame Fighting Irish into an unstoppable offensive juggernaut. Known as the “Springfield Rifle,” he executes the T-formation flawlessly and secures his place as a pioneer of the modern passing attack. Before he answers the call of duty to defend his country, Bertelli absolutely dominates the college football landscape and carves out a permanent legacy in South Bend.
Football Bio
June 18, 1921 – West Springfield, Massachusetts – The starting quarterback of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 1941 to 1943, Angelo Bertelli was born. Bertelli, the “Springfield Rifle,” played in only six games during the 1943 season, yet won the Heisman Trophy.
Just prior to the seventh game of the season, Bertelli was called into service with the Marine Corps, where he served as an officer at Iwo Jima and Guam. They were calling him the greatest passer in Notre Dame history as Bertelli completed 69 percent of his passes for 10 touchdowns.
During that 1943 campaign, the Irish averaged 43 points a game in the season’s first six contests. Notre Dame finished 9-1, losing only to the Great Lakes Naval Station 19-14 in the final 30 seconds of play, yet they retained their number one ranking and the national championship.
Angelo was an instant sensation at Notre Dame as he was second in the Heisman voting as a sophomore tailback. When the Irish switched to the T formation in his junior season, Bertelli became the team’s quarterback and won the first of his two All-American awards. In a game against Stanford, he completed 10 consecutive passes and threw for four touchdowns.
Angelo Bertelli was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972 following a vote by the National Football Foundation. Following military service, he played with the Los Angeles Dons and Chicago Rockets in the All-American Football Conference in 1946-1948.
Angelo Bertelli establishes a standard of excellence that future collegiate quarterbacks still chase. He masterfully deploys unprecedented passing mechanics and courageously serves his country in combat during World War II. By capturing the sport’s most prestigious honor in just a six-game span, Bertelli cements his timeless legacy as an American hero and a gridiron icon.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Heisman Trophy Winner: 1943 (The first recipient from Notre Dame and the first T-formation quarterback to claim the award).
- National Champion: 1943 (Associated Press).
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1972.
- NFL Draft: Selected 1st overall in the 1944 NFL Draft by the Boston Yanks.
- Consensus First-Team All-American: 1943.
- First-Team All-American: 1942.
- AAFC Professional Career: Played for the Los Angeles Dons (1946) and Chicago Rockets (1947–1948).
- Heisman Voting Record: Finished second in 1941, sixth in 1942, and won the award in 1943.