The Harvey G. Foster Award - 2021: Brady Quinn '07
2021: Brady Quinn '07
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions in service of our nation's veterans as founder of the 3rd & Goal Foundation, this award is presented to Brady Quinn '07.
A former first-round NFL Draft pick and two-time All-American at quarterback for Notre Dame, Quinn joined FOX Sports as a college football and NFL game analyst in 2014. During his collegiate career, he set 36 single-season and career program records, including for career passing attempts (1,602), completions (929), yards (11,762), and touchdown passes (95), and his 29 career wins as a starter also tied for the most ever by a Notre Dame quarterback. He led the Fighting Irish to back-to-back nation's top player, and finished fourth (2005) and third (2006) in Heisman Trophy voting. After joining the Cleveland Browns as the 22nd pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Quinn spend seven seasons with six different teams.
In 2010, Quinn founded the 3rd & Goal Foundation, which provides financial, educational, and emotional support to returning soldiers. What began as an effort to provide construction assistance to veterans in need of wheelchair accessibility in their homes, has grown into a multipronged organizations granting "touchdowns," or life-altering assistance in reintegration into civilian life through Operation Joy. Through Operation Education, 3rd & Goal funds Notre Dame's Warrior-Scholar Project - a free, immersive academic boot camp for current and former service members interested in higher education - and the Peer 2 Peer Sponsor Program at The Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati, which pairs peer sponsors with incoming student veterans and service members to assist in the transition from military service to the classroom. Finally, Operation Joy serves to enhance veterans' quality of life through special events, social outings such as football games and concerts, holiday celebrations, and more.
The son of a Vietnam War veteran and grandson of a World War II veteran, Quinn was born in Columbus, Ohio, and currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with his wife, Alicia, a former Olympic gymnast and medalist who competed under her maiden name, Alicia Sacramone. The couple has three daughters, Sloan, Teagan, and Cassidy.