Former Notre Dame QB Recalls Lou Holtz's Infamous Punt Return Mishap

Steve Beuerlein shares the story of Holtz's ill-fated attempt to field a punt during spring practice in 1986.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:08pm

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Former Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beuerlein reminisced about the late coach Lou Holtz's infamous punt return mishap during spring practice in 1986. Frustrated by his players' inability to field punts in the windy and rainy conditions, Holtz decided to demonstrate how it's done, only to end up shattering his finger when the ball hit him. Beuerlein reflected on the lasting lessons he learned from Holtz, who he said changed his life and football career despite coaching him for just one season.

Why it matters

Holtz's punt return experiment highlighted his intense competitiveness and willingness to lead by example, even when it put his own well-being at risk. The story also underscores the profound impact Holtz had on his players, with Beuerlein crediting the Hall of Fame coach for instilling invaluable life lessons that extended far beyond the football field.

The details

In the spring of 1986, ahead of his first season as Notre Dame's head coach, a frustrated Holtz decided to take matters into his own hands during a punt return drill. With the wind and rain making it difficult for his players to field the punts, Holtz removed his hat and whistle, went out onto the field, and called for the ball to be kicked. When the punt came down, it hit Holtz directly on the finger, shattering it. Holtz had to be taken off the field in a golf cart, but returned the next day with his arm in a cast, delivering a deadpan quip about the difficulty of catching punts in South Bend.

  • In the spring of 1986, ahead of Holtz's first season as Notre Dame's head coach.
  • The punt return mishap occurred during a spring practice session.

The players

Lou Holtz

The late Notre Dame football coaching icon, who had a Hall of Fame career with the Fighting Irish, including winning a national championship in 1988.

Steve Beuerlein

A former Notre Dame quarterback who played for Holtz in 1986 and went on to a 17-year NFL career, including winning a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys.

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What they’re saying

“So, it was a day worse than today. The wind was blowing. I think it was not cold enough for snow, but it was raining sideways. And it was blowing hard. And, you know, we had Tim Brown. We had Alonzo Jefferson. These are guys that were really talented return guys. And [Holtz] wanted to figure out who was going to be our punt returner. And the ball was going up in the air, and nobody could run it down and make the catch in those conditions. And he was getting so frustrated. 'Can we find someone that can catch a punt on this team?'”

— Steve Beuerlein, Former Notre Dame Quarterback (on3.com)

“Football was huge, obviously. And to learn the lessons we learned about playing football at the highest level were invaluable. But it was the life lessons every day, the experience of learning from him. How to carry yourself, how to live your life, how to prioritize things, how to treat your teammates and treat your family and treat people in general. How to focus on what was most important. How to keep God and your faith as the center of all of it — those are things that he preached to us every single day.”

— Steve Beuerlein, Former Notre Dame Quarterback (on3.com)

What’s next

The story does not mention any clear future newsworthy moments, so this section is left blank.

The takeaway

Holtz's punt return mishap underscores his intense competitiveness and willingness to lead by example, even at his own expense. But more importantly, it highlights the profound impact he had on his players, instilling invaluable life lessons that went far beyond the football field and shaped their careers and lives long after their playing days were over.