(Courtesy Guinness)

Guinness is heading back to college this fall, and it’s bringing along one of football’s most legendary quarterbacks for another season.

The iconic Irish stout has extended its partnership with Notre Dame Athletics for another three seasons, continuing as the Official Beer of Notre Dame Fighting Irish Alumni and Fans. And Guinness has also re-signed Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, extending a relationship between the beer brand and the Notre Dame legend that began six years ago.

This one’s a partnership that almost writes itself.

Guinness traces its brewing roots to Dublin in 1759, while Notre Dame has spent generations cultivating one of the most recognizable Irish identities in American sports. The two first teamed up in 2020, bringing together a beer synonymous with Ireland and a football program whose Fighting Irish nickname and leprechaun mascot have become part of college football culture.

Then there’s Montana.

Before he became “Joe Cool,” won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Montana was making his name at Notre Dame.

He played for the Fighting Irish from 1975 through 1978 and helped lead the school to a national championship following the 1977 season. Montana became particularly renowned for his ability to engineer improbable comebacks, a talent that would eventually become a defining feature of his NFL career.

His final game for Notre Dame was the legendary 1979 Cotton Bowl against Houston, a brutally cold game that became known as the “Chicken Soup Game.” Battling hypothermia and reportedly being fed chicken soup at halftime, Montana returned to lead Notre Dame back from a 34-12 fourth-quarter deficit to a 35-34 victory.

So yes, the guy knows football as well as his beer.

“I’m excited to continue my partnership with Guinness for another three years and keep celebrating everything that makes football season so special,” Montana said. “Notre Dame is where so much began for me, and I’m looking forward to connecting with football fans this season because there’s nothing like raising a pint on game day.”

Guinness is also bringing back its annual limited-edition Notre Dame can for the 2026 college football season. This year’s Guinness Draught packaging features Notre Dame’s Football Leprechaun mark for the first time and will be distributed in more markets than in previous years.

And this historic relationship doesn’t end on football Saturdays.

Over the next three years, Guinness will continue hosting Notre Dame fan experiences with Montana making appearances, pouring beer and connecting with Fighting Irish faithful. Montana will also participate in community initiatives through the Guinness Gives Back program and work with local organizations in markets connected to the campaign.

Beer and sports sponsorships are a big deal these days, especially with major breweries aggressively attaching themselves to everything from the NFL and Major League Baseball to international soccer.

But Guinness, Notre Dame and Joe Montana have something those partnerships don’t

A meaningful history.

And now they’ve signed up for three more seasons of it.

The limited-edition Notre Dame Guinness Draught cans are available now in select markets, but they won’t be forever.

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