Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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76 FEBRUARY 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE W ith 19 former Irish on NFL playoff rosters and numerous others earn- ing Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, Notre Dame was well represented in the 2024 NFL regular season. Here are the five players that stood out the most this season. 1 Kyle Hamilton, S Baltimore Ravens The 2022 first-round draft pick and third-year NFL starter secured All-Pro honors from Pro Football Focus and earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection after one of the best regular seasons among all NFL safeties. Hamilton finished second on the Ra- vens with 107 total tackles and added 9 passes defended, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. PFF handed Hamilton a 90.1 overall grade this regular season, the third best mark in the league at his position. Hamilton's work helped Baltimore to a 12-5 record, an AFC North Division title, and a place in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs. 2 Julian Love, S Seattle Seahawks The 2019 fourth-round draft pick surprisingly didn't repeat as a Pro Bowl selection after he led the Seattle Seahawks with 109 tackles. Love also paced his team with 7 passes broken up — the second-best mark in the league — and he tied for the Seahawks' lead with 3 interceptions. PFF handed Love an 81.2 overall grade, which ranked 8th among NFL safeties, and an 89.5 grade in run de- fense, which was second in the league at his position. The Seahawks finished the season 10-7, narrowly missed the playoffs. 3 Kyren Williams, RB Los Angeles Rams The 2022 fifth-round draft pick con- tinues to be one of the most productive and durable tailbacks in the league. Wil- liams finished this regular season third in the NFL in carries (316), seventh in rushing yards (1,299), and fifth in rush- ing touchdowns (14). All were career highs. Williams also added 34 receptions for 182 yards with 2 touchdowns, and was a key cog in helping the Rams to a 10-7 record, the NFC West title and a place in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs. 4 Quenton Nelson, G Indianapolis Colts The 2018 first-round draft pick re- turned to his dominant form in 2024 and earned PFF All-Pro honors. Great balance helped Nelson earn his postsea- son honors and run his streak to seven straight Pro Bowl selections. PFF handed Nelson an 81.3 overall grade, the eighth-best mark among 135 NFL guards. Nelson also earned a 79.7 pass blocking grade (seventh best) and an 81.7 grade in run blocking (eighth best). Also, Nelson's 10 penalties and his 8 quarterback hits allowed were both the eighth fewest at his position this regular season. 5 Brandon Aubrey, K Dallas Cowboys The second-year player followed up his terrific 2023 rookie campaign with a comparable sophomore season, going 40 of 47 on field goals, including 14 of 17 from 50 or more yards. PFF handed the former Irish soccer star a 95.8 grade for his regular season, giving him the best mark in the NFL among kickers for the second straight season. Aubrey also earned PFF All-Pro and NFL Pro Bowl recognition for the sec- ond-straight year. Aubrey's 47 field goal attempts, his 17 tries from more than 50 yards and his 14 made 50-yarders all led the league. ✦ Notre Dame Alumni Flex Their NFL Muscles I R I S H I N T H E P R O S Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson is the third offensive lineman since 1970 to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the first seven sea- sons of his career. PHOTO COURTESY INDIANAPOLIS COLTS FORMER IRISH IN THE 2025 NFL PLAYOFFS Following is an alphabetical list of the 19 former Notre Dame players who were on active NFL playoff rosters when the 14-team postseason opened last weekend. Years at Notre Dame in parentheses. • Joe Alt (Played at Notre Dame from 2021-23), OT, Los Angeles Chargers • Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Washington Commanders • Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, Denver Broncos • Blake Fisher (2021-23), OT, Houston Texans • Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers • Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens • Cam Hart (2019-23), CB, Los Angeles Chargers • Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans • Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders • Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos • Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Los Angeles Chargers • Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans • Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers • Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings • Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens • Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Minnesota Vikings • Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs • Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams • Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions