Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526670
52 SEPT. 21, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE P erhaps it's his attention to detail, or his no-shortcut approach to daily life, or just some good old-fashioned clean living, but former Irish linebacker JD Bertrand has always stayed on course and never really suffered any serious setbacks during his impressive football career. An Alpharetta, Ga., native, Bertrand became the 2018 Atlanta-Journal Con- stitution Defensive Player of Year as a senior at Blessed Trinity High School. The four-star recruit chose Notre Dame to play his college ball, where he started and led the Irish in tackles for three consecutive seasons (2021-23). Bertrand is now carving his niche in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, after being selected by his hometown team in the fifth round of the 2024 Draft. N i c k n a m e d " C a p ta i n A m e r i ca " a t Notre Dame because of his movie-star looks and his love of superheroes, Ber- trand has seen the moniker follow him to Atlanta. "Get your little Captain America ass up here and let's get to work," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said to Ber- trand last April, during the call to share the draft news. The fact that Bertrand landed with Atlanta wasn't a surprise. He grew up near there — his parents still live only about 45 minutes from Mercedes-Benz Stadium — and the former Irish team captain was already on the team's radar all the way back to his junior season at Notre Dame. Bertrand initially caught the eye of Falcons' scout Ryan Doyal during the Irish fall camp in 2023. "It's the instincts that he has for the game," Doyle said in a story for Atlanta- Falcons.com. "He sees things quicker than most people do." Doyle said that Bertrand's football instincts fit perfectly for special teams work, which is likely where the rookie will spend the bulk of his first NFL season. Against the Steelers in the season opener Sept. 8, Bertrand made his NFL debut and totaled 23 snaps with 1 tackle across five special teams units. With solid depth at linebacker in Atlanta, Bertrand recognized on draft day that special teams would likely be his best course to stick on the Falcons' opening day roster, and to someday become a rotational regular on defense. "He's an already-made veteran," Morris added. "He's come in here and is helping us win, and earning those stripes on special teams in order to put himself in position to play for us." Always looking to improve, Bertrand used every avenue available to get better at Notre Dame, including nagging for- mer Irish linebackers coach and eight- year NFL veteran James Laurinaitis for some mentor suggestions. Laurinaitis forwarded Bertrand the contact num- bers of former NFL linebackers Sean Lee of the Dallas Cowboys and Luke Kue- chly of the Carolina Panthers. "It started with phone calls to the guys, 'How do you watch film?'" Ber- trand recalled. "It kind of evolved from there. It's sit down on the phone, and Sean Lee will talk me through, 'Here's how I play Cover 1, here's how I play Cover 3.' It's a great asset." Standout work through training camp and an unmistakable presence in the locker room have already endeared Ber- trand to his teammates and coaches. And given a long history of achieve- ment and success on the football field through high school and college, Ber- trand can expect similar results in the NFL. "Captain America himself is going to be able to come here and contribute in all types of ways," Morris said. "It's just who he's been, and what he's been throughout his career." ✦ Rookie JD Bertrand Begins His Next Football Chapter I R I S H I N T H E P R O S FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Brandon Aubrey (Played at Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys, NFL In a 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns Sept. 8, the former Irish soccer star and 2023 NFL first-team All-Pro selection went 4 of 4 on field goals with a long of 57 yards. The St. Louis native also made a 66-yard field goal that would've tied the NFL record for longest ever, but a delay-of-game penalty wiped it out. Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints, NFL On a great day for former Notre Dame kickers in the NFL, the Sedalia, Mo., native made all 4 of his field goal attempts, including a 57-yarder, and also converted all 5 of his point-after tries in a 47-10 win over the Carolina Panthers Sept. 8. Grupe parlayed his one season at Notre Dame into a starting spot with the Saints as a rookie last season. Julian Love (2016-18), S, Seattle Seahawks, NFL Playing in his second season in Seattle, the 2023 Pro Bowl selection picked up where he left off when he recorded 12 tackles in a 26-20 win over the Denver Bron- cos in the season opener Sept. 8. The Westchester, Ill., native also added 1 interception and 1 forced fumble, and allowed only 23 yards on 6 targets in pass coverage. In his first NFL regular season game, Bertrand played 23 snaps and recorded 1 tackle on special teams for the Atlanta Falcons. PHOTO COURTESY ATLANTA FALCONS