Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2026 95 Hanratty, Seymour, Bleier, Conjar, Goeddeke and defensive standouts like Alan Page and Kevin Hardy, Eddy was named team MVP. "He was a great teammate," Goeddeke noted. "Confident, but with no big ego. He was about doing things right, and doing whatever he could to help us win." After the 1966 season, the national recognition arrived as well. Eddy was named a unanimous All-America selec- tion and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, behind winner Steve Spurrier of Florida and Purdue's Griese. Eddy was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the NFL Draft, and earned a spot on the College All- Star team in the summer of 1967, meet- ing the NFL champion, Vince Lombar- di's Green Bay Packers. In his first exhibition game with the Lions, Eddy returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. The following week, how- ever, he suffered a knee injury, and his seven-year career with the Lions was hampered by knee problems. Eddy went on to a career in teaching and coaching, eventually relocating back to California. Eddy was remembered by his family as "a devoted father and friend, a man of presence and conviction whose strong faith was shaped by both triumph and hardship. He carried that same dedica- tion into his roles as a father, teacher, and coach. He was guided by compassion and a belief in discipline, strength, and determination. Those who knew him be- yond the field understood his complex- ity, resilience, and the endurance with which he faced life's challenges. At the heart of all he gave was kindness." ✦ Jim Lefebvre is an award-winning Notre Dame author and leads the Knute Rockne Memorial Society. He can be reached at: jim@ndfootballhistory.com Eddy spent many years as a special education teacher in Modesto, Calif., where he was known for his patience, compassion and commitment to his students. Eddy died on Dec. 31, 2025, at the age of 81. PHOTO COURTESY THE EDDY FAMILY