By Darin How does a “baseball kid” who never played organized football until high school become the greatest receiver in Notre Dame history? For Thom Gatewood, the journey from the sandlots of Baltimore to the hallowed turf of South Bend was defined by “firsts.” As the first African-American captain of the Fighting Irish, Gatewood didn’t just break barriers; he shattered a three-decade-old record book. Whether hauling in passes from Joe Theismann or producing award-winning broadcasts for ABC, Gatewood proved that elite performance knows no boundaries—on the field or behind the camera.
Football Bio
March 7, 1950 – Baltimore, Maryland – Thom Gatewood, the brilliant wide receiver of the University of Notre Dame football program from 1969 to 1971, celebrated his day of birth.
The NFF tells us that Gatewood was the first African-American captain in Notre Dame history, and this player set almost every receiving record in school history during an All-American career! Earning the consensus First Team All-American in 1970, Thom was the leader of receiving for Notre Dame in all three seasons of his collegiate career. Gatewood didn’t establish just one, but owned multiple Irish receiving records for more than 30 years! These Irish gridiron milestones included the single-season record of 77 catches and 157 career receptions, single-season yardage marks of 1,123 and career yardage of 2,283 receiving, and career receiving touchdowns at 21.
The doors swung wide open for Thom Gatewood as he carried his collegiate legacy into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Thom was taken in the fifth round of the 1972 NFL draft by the New York Giants and spent two seasons in the Big Apple with the team. After that, he went on to serve as director and stage manager for ABC News and ABC Sports, receiving both an Emmy and a Peabody Award for his great work.
Conclusion
Thom Gatewood’s legacy at Notre Dame is a testament to the “student-athlete” ideal in its purest form. By setting records that stood for 35 years, he became the blueprint for the modern Fighting Irish receiver. However, his impact stretched far beyond the end zone. As a trailblazing captain and a highly decorated television producer, Gatewood demonstrated that the discipline required to dominate the gridiron is the same fuel needed to reach the pinnacle of broadcast journalism. He remains one of the most versatile and respected figures to ever wear the blue and gold.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2015.
- Consensus First-Team All-American: 1970.
- First African-American Captain: Named Notre Dame team captain in 1971.
- Cotton Bowl Champion: Led the Irish to a 24–11 victory over #1 Texas in 1971.
- NFF National Scholar-Athlete: 1971.
- Two-Time Academic All-American: 1970, 1971.
- Notre Dame Receiving Records: Held school records for single-season catches (77), career catches (157), and career yards (2,283) for over 30 years.
- Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2020.
- NFL Draft: 5th Round pick (107th overall) by the New York Giants in 1972.
- Post-Football Excellence: Emmy and Peabody Award recipient for work with ABC News and ABC Sports.
