Riley James Leonard (born September 13, 2002) is an American college football quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Leonard was born in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and moved to Fairhope, Alabama when he was in kindergarten.

[1][2] Leonard attended Fairhope High School where he played football and basketball.

[4] Leonard received offers to play college football from programs like Nebraska, Syracuse, and Tulane.

After a victory in the 2025 Orange Bowl,[2] he expressed his faith many times through the phrase, “Jesus bless.”