William Shakespeare: Notre Dame’s Hall of Fame Halfback

William “The Bard” Shakespeare captivated Notre Dame fans with his booming punts and clutch passing, cementing his legendary status in college football history before earning battlefield honors in World War II.

Football Bio

September 27, 1912 – William Shakespeare was a Notre Dame halfback and kicker.

No, this is not the Bill Shakespeare who wrote the famous plays like Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, but he was quite graceful and poetic on the gridiron!

The National Football Foundation says this William was a great punter, runner, and passer for the Irish in the mid-1930s.

As a sophomore, he punted five times and averaged 53.2 yards per punt.

That stat earned him more playing time as a junior, where he kept a lofty punt average of 40 yards per kick on 41 punts but also established himself as a ball carrier.

By his senior year, the Bard was a hero, especially in the Ohio State game, when he entered with his team trailing by one point and threw a perfect touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining to lead the Golden Domers to victory.

During that same 1935 season against Pittsburgh, Shakespeare punted the ball 86 yards! Talk about flipping the field! That season, he earned first-team All-American honors.

After college, William served in the U.S. Military and, during World War II, as a Captain, won four battle stars and a Bronze Star for gallantry in battle.

The National Football Foundation selected William Shakespeare for its College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

William Shakespeare proved his heroism on the gridiron and the battlefield, leaving a remarkable legacy the College Football Hall of Fame proudly honors today.

Accolades and Football Accomplishments

• Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
• Named a Consensus First-Team All-American in 1935.
• Threw the game-winning touchdown pass in Notre Dame’s famous 18-13 comeback victory over Ohio State in 1935 (widely referred to as the original “Game of the Century”).
• Recorded a legendary 86-yard punt against the Pittsburgh Panthers in 1935.
• Selected in the first round (3rd overall pick) of the inaugural 1936 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates (though he chose a business career in Cincinnati over playing professional football).
• Earned a Bronze Star and four battle stars for his distinguished service as a U.S. Army Captain during World War II.

Sports Memorabilia Signed GearMcCaffrey 49ers Signed Mini-HelmetPerfect for any collection! Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers Autographed Riddell Speed Mini Helmet.Check out One of our Books!Pottsville Maroons StoryMarooned: The Rise, the Fall, and the Redemption of the NFL's Pottsville Maroons - The story of the Pottsville Maroons and their 1925 season has several variations. The NFL's official version says the team had its franchise revoked for violating the league's territorial rights rules and disobeying the league President's instruction not to play an exhibition game in Philadelphia.2026 Topps Football Trading CardsTopps 2026 Flagship Football Factory Sealed Fanatics Exclusive Value BoxIt has been almost 10 years but Topps Flagship Football returns with a fully licensed release, marking the return of one of the most iconic brands in The Hobby.Football Archaeology Series by Timothy BrownWhen Football Came To Pass: 1906-1915When Football Came To Pass covers why football legalized the forward pass, the rules and other constraints on its development, and how Eddie Cochems and other pioneers developed solutions that ultimately led to the forward pass revolutionizing the game.

Here are More Stories on Notre Dame Football Legends