Michael Stonebreaker
2025 Finalist
New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame
Football, 1984-95
John Curtis Christian/Notre Dame/NFL
Photo Courtesy of the National Football Foundation.
Michael Stonebreaker established himself as one of the best high school football players in Louisiana during his days at John Curtis Christian School (1984-87). The dominant linebacker helped the Patriots to three state championships. As a senior, he was named the Outstanding Defensive Player in Louisiana, as well as the defensive MVP in the state championship game.
After high school, the River Ridge, La., native chose to attend Notre Dame where he developed into a College Football Hall of Famer (Class of 2023). Using his exceptional football instincts and pass-coverage abilities, Stonebreaker stood in the center of a Notre Dame defense that helped the undefeated Irish team capture the national title in 1988. He was a two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1988 and unanimous laurels in 1990, Stonebreaker finished third in the Butkus Award voting in both 1988 and 1990.
During his three seasons playing in South Bend, the Irish went 26-9, including the undefeated 1988 season, which culminated with a 34-21 victory over West Virginia in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl and Notre Dame claiming the national title. Stonebreaker registered 104 tackles in 1988, second most on the team, playing for Lou Holtz. As a senior in 1990, Stonebreaker led Notre Dame with 95 tackles in 1990 after missing the entire 1989 season.
"Michael simply plays the game the way it should be played – clean, hard, intelligently and within a total team concept," Holtz said in a 1988 interview.
During his senior campaign, Stonebreaker was responsible for three of the biggest late-game defensive plays of the season. Against Michigan in the first game of the season, he made a game-deciding interception in the fourth quarter for a 28-24 win. The following week, Stonebreaker made another fourth quarter pick to secure a 20-19 victory over Michigan State. Midway through the season against the No. 2 ranked Miami Hurricanes, he sealed a 29-20 upset with a fourth-quarter fumble recovery at the Irish two-yard line. The team went 9-3, earning a trip to the 1991 Orange Bowl to play Colorado who claimed a 10-9 win and a share of the national title. The Irish finished No. 6 in the final polls, and Stonebreaker received invitations to the Japan and Hula bowls.
During his three seasons in South Bend, he tallied 220 career tackles, eight pass breakups and five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, as well as four forced fumbles and five sacks.
In a Nola.com story, Stonebreaker credited much of what he learned about playing linebacker to Leon Curtis, his high school position coach.
"We were taught to keep a base and keep your head on a swivel and run to the football and run through the blockers," Stonebreaker said. "Having that base when I got up to Notre Dame, I was ready for the next level."
Selected in the ninth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, Stonebreaker played three seasons in the league with Chicago, Atlanta, and New Orleans. He played one season in the World League for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 1995.
