Pivotal Moment: CJ Carr Named Notre Dame’s Starting Quarterback for the 2025 Season

The future is here for Notre Dame football! The Fighting Irish have officially named redshirt freshman CJ Carr their starting quarterback for the highly anticipated 2025 season. This pivotal decision underscores a strategic commitment to qualities like trust, leadership, and resilience, which head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock emphasized in selecting Carr to lead the Fighting Irish offense.

CJ Carr's Selection: A Foundation of Trust and Resilience

The choice to start CJ Carr was not based solely on his physical talent but on his decision-making, composure, and remarkable ability to recover from setbacks. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock highlighted Carr’s resiliency as a defining factor, particularly his capacity to learn from mistakes during intense training camp—a trait that truly set him apart in a closely contested competition with Kenny Minchey. While both promising quarterbacks showed immense potential, Carr’s consistent performance in managing the offense and his instinctive playmaking ultimately secured his role as the starting quarterback for Notre Dame.

Building Success: CJ Carr's System Familiarity and Strong Foundation at Notre Dame

CJ Carr enters the 2025 season with a distinct advantage: a valuable redshirt season and a full spring practice. This comprehensive experience provides him with a second year under Mike Denbrock’s offensive scheme, allowing him to develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the system. Carr believes this preparation has made the Fighting Irish offense more advanced and cohesive heading into 2025. He also fully recognizes the importance of building on the legacy of former Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, whose significant contributions laid the groundwork for this upcoming season. Carr aims to honor that strong foundation while actively establishing his own leadership identity, seamlessly blending continuity with innovative strategies.

Guidance and Grand Ambitions: CJ Carr's Path at Notre Dame

The immense pressures of playing starting quarterback at Notre Dame are unmatched, but CJ Carr benefits greatly from the invaluable guidance of former Fighting Irish QB Ian Book. Book provides firsthand insights into navigating the program’s unique demands. This crucial mentorship is expected to help Carr effectively manage the high expectations and further refine his approach to this demanding position.

With CJ Carr now at the helm, Notre Dame is highly optimistic about significant offensive growth, aiming to build upon last season’s successful College Football Playoff semifinal appearance. The program’s ultimate goal remains clear: sustained championship contention, and Carr’s emergent leadership will be absolutely central to that ambitious pursuit. As the highly anticipated 2025 season approaches, all eyes will undoubtedly be on how CJ Carr translates his meticulous preparation into exceptional on-field performance—and whether he can successfully lead the Fighting Irish back to college football’s biggest stage.