SOUTH BEND — Former Notre Dame football quarterback Ian Book has a built-in support system as he tries his hand at broadcasting this weekend with the Blue-Gold Game on Peacock.
Steve Beuerlein, one of his foremost predecessors in both disciplines, is among those in Book’s corner.
“It’s an exciting time for him, and I’ve talked with him,” Beuerlein said of the expectant father. “He’s got some different business things going, and he’s struggling with whether he wants to continue trying to find an opportunity in the NFL and get a chance to play. But I think he’s at the point now where he’s realizing that it might be time to move on.”
Book, 28, made one NFL start with the New Orleans Saints and earned a Super Bowl ring as a backup quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles. Like Beuerlein a quarter century earlier, Book was a fourth-round NFL Draft pick in 2021 (Saints) after an extended run at the controls for Notre Dame.
“I understand going through all that stuff,” said Beuerlein, who retired in 2003. “I think he’s trying to cut his teeth and figure out what he wants to do. He’s a sharp guy. He knows football, and I’m sure he’ll do a really good job in the Blue-Gold game. Who knows what may come out of it?”
In late March, Book provided on-air analysis for Peacock’s coverage of Notre Dame’s Pro Day heading into the NFL Draft.
Steve Beuerlein spreads awareness in the fight against heart disease
Beuerlein, 61, won his Super Bowl ring as Troy Aikman’s backup with the 1992 Dallas Cowboys. Beuerlein would start 102 NFL games across 17 seasons with six different franchises before transitioning into the broadcasting and business insurance worlds.
One of his newest projects is serving as an ambassador for Heartflow, an advanced, noninvasive testing system that aims to provide early detection for coronary artery disease (CAD) through 3D imaging.
Beacon Health System is the publicly traded company’s regional partner, and Beuerlein was relieved when his imaging exam came back clean. His father Al, who died of cancer in 2019 at age 83, dealt with heart-related issues for 30 years, including a quadruple bypass.
Al Beuerlein’s father also dealt with heart problems, leading to a lifelong vigilance for the Steve Beuerlein and his three brothers.
“Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the world,” Beuerlein said. “It’s known as a silent killer. You can have heart disease without even knowing it. No signs, no symptoms of any problem whatsoever, and 50% of heart attacks and any kind of major heart episode are complete surprises.”
Through his participation in the “GAMEFILM” registry, Beuerlein said he learned former professional athletes die of heart disease at a significantly higher rate than the general population. The likelihood, he said, is 33% for former pro athletes versus 20% for everyone else.
For more information, visit heartflow.com/football.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Analyst Ian Book has a fan in former Notre Dame QB Steve Beuerlein
Reporting by Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
