Joe McFadden is rightly known for his football prowess--a three year starter and quarterback on Georgetown's 1941 Orange Bowl team. he also saw time as a sophomore walk-on for the basketball team, playing in seven games that season.

McFadden did not pursue football after college, but instead joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He received the Silver Star for valor in the battle of Iwo Jima. His citation read, in part, "With one of the rifle companies seriously disorganized after its Commanding Officer, four other officers and several key non-commissioned officers had become casualties during an attack, Captain McFadden took charge of the company and began to reorganize it and reconsolidate its lines. Moving through a heavy enemy mortar barrage, he personally visited the scattered and demoralized groups and, in the face of intense hostile fire, skillfully rallied and reorganized them into fighting units. Thereafter, he initiated a determined attack and made contact with the right and left flank units. By his outstanding courage and determination under enemy fire, Captain McFadden inspired his men to continue a vital attack against the enemy's main line of resistance. His leadership and devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

A return to the Hilltop after the war offered McFadden an opportunity to earn his law degree, though some in the athletic department might have wanted McFadden to return with some eligibility remaining. According to his obituary, McFadden was an attorney for the retirement fund of the United Mine Workers before retiring in 1975 as its assistant general counsel. He died in 1989.