Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547512
6 NOV. 14, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC HANSEN N early six years after Ian Book played his last football game in a Notre Dame uniform, the retired NFL quar- terback and aspiring media personality made an admission about his playing career. "I was a boring interview, back in the day playing," Book said in a Blue & Gold YouTube interview. On purpose, mind you. "It's funny now, being on the out- side," said Book, Notre Dame's starting quarterback from the fourth game of the 2018 season through the end of the 2020 season. "Like, in the building, they're taught to be extremely boring and just talk about the team. "And I took that to heart. So, every time I got interviewed, I would just try to get the interview over with and be like, 'I'll be better. I'll be better. The team will be better.' And then just get out of there. " I ' ve h o p e f u l l y gotten a lot better. Now, I'm the guy on the other side of the interview and try- ing to get some nice stuff from CJ [Carr], and I totally get it. It's contradicting, but it's fun to be on the other side. It's fun to view the game from the stands or the box or the side- line or from the booth." But Book still has an inside view of Notre Dame football. He spends seven months of the year in South Bend and has taken on a mentoring role within the program. "I'm still in the building [the new Shields Family Hall football facility] every single day," Book said. "I saw CJ last week, talked to him. I still work out there every morning. I try to stop by in the afternoon a few times a week. "It's awesome that they allow me to do that. I'm able to help in certain as- pects [of the program] that they want me to, whether that's watching tape, recruiting. I'm in the weight room every single day. "I met with [Notre Dame athletics chief operating officer] Ron Powlus and [director of athletics] Pete Bevac- qua about when something happens to somebody, if they don't want to call their parents or their coach, like they should call me. Like I've been through everything they've been through. "I also live here and I just kind of want to be a mentor. So, if I'm living here, use me in any way you can. So with CJ, yes. I shoot him a text every once in a while. I do try to stay out — like, he doesn't need to hear from me weekly." Away from Notre Dame football, Book is balancing fatherhood — he has a 4-month-old son — with his role as director of investor relations at Golden Legacy Partners, alongside former Irish teammates. He's also pursuing a variety of media opportunities, with the long- term goal of calling Notre Dame games. "I don't want to coach," Book said. "So, I thought being in the media would be an awesome segue to stay around the game. My ultimate goal would be to call some Notre Dame games. That would be able to fill that bucket for me." Book's media work also includes "The PlayBook," a 20-episode podcast produced by Notre Dame's NIL collec- tive, Rally. His in-depth interview with Carr was scheduled to debut on Notre Dame's YouTube channel during the weekend of Nov. 6-8. He also has spent time this season with freshman quarterbacks Noah Grubbs and Teddy Jarrard. "I like them both," Book said. "I think both have learned a ton and stepped up when they needed to go in. I thought camp was great and our practices have been great. Differ- ent though. Like Noah, to me, seems calm out there and he's in rhythm. He's able to go through his progressions. "Same thing with Teddy. I think Ted- dy's got a rocket arm. He can make the big play. He's got his legs that he can use a little bit. So I like them both. I love that they're battling. To me, anybody who can come in early and get sufficient reps and continue to get better is a huge win coming in the next year. "Obviously if CJ is gone, what's go- ing on? Who's coming in? Is that a thing? You need guys ready. And right now you've got a season to get those guys ready. And when they're getting in there, I just think that that's amazing. "I think both of them are good. I really do like them. I think they're different. And I've heard that in practice they're balling and doing well. That's what you like to hear." ✦ UNDER THE DOME STAYING IN THE GAME Ian Book has gone from giving boring interviews to conducting them, while also serving as a mentor to the next generation of Irish players Book is pursuing a career in sports media while mentoring CJ Carr and the next generation of Irish players. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER