Release courtesy of NIU Sports Information

DeKALB, Ill. – After a legendary and groundbreaking college football playing career at Northern Illinois University that included leading NIU to a historic appearance in the Orange Bowl, a third-place finish in the 2013 Heisman Trophy voting and five NCAA records, former Huskie quarterback Jordan Lynch earned the sport's highest recognition on Wednesday (January 14) as he was introduced as a member of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class by the National Football Foundation. 

"It's a surreal feeling," said Lynch. "To know that of all the players in the history of college football that just over 1,000 have been selected to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, and to be just the second NIU player named, it's obviously a great honor.  To have all the hard work, sacrifice and dedication, the time, the commitment, by not just me but my parents, family, loved ones, teammates, coaches and everyone at NIU recognized is awesome." 

Lynch becomes just the second Huskie to earn the honor as a player, joining fellow quarterback George Bork (1960-63) who was inducted in 1999. NIU's Tom Beck (1959-61) was inducted in 2004 after an outstanding career as a collegiate coach. Of the 5.78 million individuals who have played and coached college football since 1869, just 1,111 players and 237 coaches have been inducted into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. 

"While we at NIU have known for a long time that what Jordan Lynch accomplished during his time as a Huskie placed him among the best to ever play the game, today's announcement emphatically makes that statement to the entire nation," said NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean T. Frazier. "Jordan's leadership, his toughness and his will to win were – and are – unmatched. We are excited to congratulate him today and to honor him throughout the next year leading up to his induction next December." 

The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class includes 18 former players and four coaches selected from the national ballot and NFF Veterans Committee (link to NFF release). The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8 at the Bellagio Resort & Casino. 

"Congratulations to Jordan Lynch on receiving this honor as a 2026 inductee into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame," said NIU President Lisa Freeman. "He thrilled us with his accomplishments during his days as a student-athlete and has continued to fill us with Huskie Pride as an alumnus. We are excited to celebrate this milestone accomplishment with him." 

Lynch led NIU to a 24-4 record as a starter from 2012-13, including a Mid-American Conference Championship and a historic appearance in the Orange Bowl to cap his junior season in 2012. An NIU and MAC Hall of Fame inductee in 2024, Lynch guided the Huskies to an undefeated regular season in 2013 – including Boneyard wins over Iowa and Purdue.   

In his senior season, Lynch threw for 2,892 yards with 24 passing touchdowns and added 1,920 rushing yards with 23 touchdowns to earn a trip to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist. He finished in third place, the highest finish ever by a player from the MAC. Additionally, Lynch was a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Manning Quarterback Award. 

Lynch's 1,920 rushing yards in 2013 set an NCAA quarterback rushing record, breaking the mark he had set the previous season when he finished with 1,815 yards. His 321 rushing yards versus Western Michigan (Nov. 26) set the NCAA record for most rushing yards in a game by an FBS quarterback – once again breaking the record he had set a month prior when he ran for 316 yards against Central Michigan. In total, Lynch set five NCAA records and 25 school records during his time at NIU. 

In 2013 Lynch was named a first team All-American as an all-purpose player by the Associated Press, Lindy's and Phil Steele, and won the MAC's Vern Smith Leadership Award, presented to the league MVP, for the second time. He twice was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and was a two-time, first team All-MAC quarterback. The Chicago native averaged 343.7 yards of total offense per game, recorded a passing and rushing touchdown in 11 games and set school records for completions, points and rushing touchdowns through an undefeated regular season.  

In his first year as a starter in 2012, Lynch guided NIU to the Orange Bowl – the first-ever BCS berth by a MAC team – and finished seventh in the Heisman race. He ranked second in the nation in total offense with 4,953 yards and became the first FBS player ever to pass for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 1,500 in a single season.   

He earned All-America honors in 2012 from both the Associated Press and Phil Steele and rushed for 100 yards in 12 games, setting an FBS record by a quarterback. Lynch led the Huskies to the MAC Championship with a 44-37 double overtime victory against No. 16 Kent State in the title game, sending the Huskies to the Orange Bowl against Florida State. He totaled 372 yards and four touchdowns, including rushing for 160 yards and three touchdowns and was named West Division MVP of the MAC Championship game.   

Through his two years as a starter for the Huskies, Lynch was 12-0 on the road and 11-0 at Huskie Stadium. He ranks fourth all-time in school history in both passing yards and touchdowns as well as third in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.    

In total, Lynch walked away from NIU with three single game, 16 single season and six career records and tallied 100 career touchdowns. He recorded at least one touchdown in all 28 games as a starter and had 19 multi-touchdown games in that time period.   

After leaving NIU, Lynch played two seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League, helping the team to a Grey Cup win in 2015. He returned to NIU as an assistant coach in 2017.  

Lynch continues his involvement with football as the highly successful head coach at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago. He has led the Caravan to five state championships, including the last four consecutive, since taking over the program at his alma mater in December 2017.