A 5’6″ kid with bad grades and no connections fought his way onto the Notre Dame field.
This is the real life story of “Rudy”.
Trailer for “Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Rudy walks us into the South Bend power plant, where his brother-in-law was killed in a conveyor belt accident. He says that same 10-degree boiler room nearly killed him too. It pushed him to apply to Notre Dame again.
- He was rejected by Notre Dame more than three times—yet snuck into practices, lived off scraps, and finally ran onto the field in 1975…in the final 27 seconds of his final game.
- Now in his 60s, Rudy still trains like a beast. He gets in the boxing ring with guys half his age and drops them.
Watch “Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On”
You can watch “Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On” on Amazon Video and Apple TV.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: not yet rated
Director’s Note: Nick Nanton (known for “Operation Toussaint: Operation Underground Railroad and the Fight to End Modern Day Slavery“) directs this documentary. He avoids nostalgia overload. Instead of retelling the movie version, it gives us raw, honest commentary from Rudy himself—about the darker moments, the physical toll, and the things the film didn’t show.
Release Date: 2019 (Streaming now)
My Review of “Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On”
The Setup
We all know the movie moment Rudy was carried off the field by his teammates. But this doc goes deeper. It’s the real story of a 5’6” steel mill kid who was rejected over and over but kept showing up. No actors. No soundtrack. Just Rudy telling how it really happened, and what came after.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Rudy’s high school years were marked by undiagnosed dyslexia and brutal grades. Most people told him he wasn’t college material, let alone Notre Dame material.
- He joins the Navy after high school, partially to get out of the steel mill world and partly to toughen up. He credits the Navy for sharpening his discipline and resolve.
- Holy Cross Junior College becomes Rudy’s ticket in. He gets better grades, attends church regularly, and makes the case that he’s academically ready. That’s how he finally transfers to Notre Dame.
- The Notre Dame coaching staff initially doesn’t even want to look at him. But he gets a spot on the scout team—the practice squad that gets hit over and over—and keeps showing up anyway.
- The game day he dresses for? It was orchestrated by his teammates and the assistant coaches. They begged the head coach to let Rudy suit up—and run one play. That’s all he needed.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Rudy was one of 14 kids. His family didn’t just doubt his dream—they thought it was borderline delusional. He used to sneak off to listen to Notre Dame radio games while his brothers teased him.
- His brother-in-law’s death was a major turning point. Rudy believed he was next if he stayed in the mill. That moment drove his third application to Notre Dame.
- The real John Driscoll (not shown in the Hollywood film) was a Notre Dame assistant lacrosse coach and Rudy’s in-law by marriage. His death in 2010 becomes a sobering modern thread in the documentary.
- Rudy still tours the country giving motivational speeches, often without a fee. At some stops, he shows up early and wipes down the chairs himself.
- The doc includes actual locker room footage from Rudy’s return to Notre Dame decades later—teammates treat him like a folk hero.
Wrap Up
If you loved the movie “Rudy,” this is essential viewing. It’s scrappier, tougher, and even more inspiring because it’s real—and still unfolding.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc