Skip to main content
Notre Dame

Look: Notre Dame athletics unveils football-specific leprechaun logo

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble08/21/25jacksoble56
notre dame leprechaun-2
The Notre Dame leprechaun fires up the crowd during a College Football Playoff win over Indiana on Dec. 20. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Notre Dame has unveiled a football-specific leprechaun logo, the athletic department announced Thursday morning.

Here’s the first look at the new concept, designed in-house by Fighting Irish Media:

Notre Dame Football-Specific Leprechaun Logo

According to a press release, more team-specific leprechaun logos will be released during the 2025-26 school year, which begins Monday. The Irish kick off football season at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Miami.

Other team-specific logos could be released in future seasons as well.

“The Fighting Irish Leprechaun logo first appeared on the cover of the November 20, 1964, edition of Time, featuring first-year Notre Dame head football coach Ara Parseghian,” the Irish wrote in their press release. “The image developed for the cover eventually was designed into the logo that Irish athletic fans across the nation are accustomed to seeing on clothing, memorabilia and more. 

“The Notre Dame Leprechaun is a secondary spirit mark of Notre Dame athletics. Its long-standing history represents the tenacious spirit of the Fighting Irish and their determination. The Leprechaun is recognized around the world today as the mascot of Notre Dame athletics dating back to its design in the early 1960s.”

Fighting Irish Media released this short video, highlighting key moments in program history, as revealed the logo:

It also released a short video featuring a custom piece of artwork by artist David Nott:

Irish fans can purchase gear from the football leprechaun collection as well.

More on Notre Dame football: CJ Carr named starting quarterback

Notre Dame’s quarterback competition is over. Redshirt freshman CJ Carr has been named the starter, the Irish announced Tuesday.

The Carr era begins in Week 1 at Miami. Irish head coach Marcus Freeman made the final call.

Carr beat out redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey, who will assume the backup quarterback role. Carr also beat out redshirt junior Steve Angeli, who transferred to Syracuse, in spring practice. The youngest participant came out on top in Freeman’s first legitimate quarterback battle since becoming head coach in 2022.

Carr committed to Notre Dame over Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan State and LSU on June 9, 2022. Since that day, the Saline (Mich.) High product has been considered the quarterback of the future in South Bend, ranking as the No. 6 quarterback player and No. 68 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class. On Tuesday, that vision became reality.

Due to a September elbow injury, Carr only played in one game during his true freshman season. He will enter Week 1 with zero pass attempts at the college level.