Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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49 SEPT. 13, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE T hanking the Los Angeles Rams fran- chise for trusting in him, and prom- ising to do everything in his power to validate that trust, former Irish All- America running back Kyren Williams signed a three-year contract extension with the team Aug. 6 that will pay him $33 million. The deal includes $23 million guaran- teed, which made the 2023 second-team All-Pro and one of the top touchdown makers in the NFL the seventh-high- est-paid running back in the league. "I'm all about commitment. I'm all about loyalty," said Williams, who was entering the final year of his rookie con- tract this season. "The people that pour into me, I'm going to pour into you. And the Rams have done nothing but that since I've gotten here." A 2022 fifth-round draft pick — and only the 15th running back selected in that draft — Williams has tallied 31 scrimmage touchdowns over the past two seasons, which ties for first in the league, and is easily the most of any running back in his draft class. "And the best part of it is [Williams] will just continue to do what he's done," Rams head coach Sean McVay said. "He is like, 'I can't wait to work even harder.' And it's like, I don't think you can work any harder, man. Just keep approaching it the way that you are." McVay's appreciation for Williams is understandable. According to ESPN Research, Wil- liams accounted for 43 percent of the Rams' offensive touches last season, the most of any player in the league. Over the last two seasons, Williams' 2,443 rushing yards ranks third most in the league behind the Ravens' Derrick Henry (3,088) and the Eagles' Saquon Barkley (2,967). "It means a whole lot that this organi- zation believes in me," Williams added. "And I'm going to continue to keep giv- ing them everything that I have of my soul to make sure they know that." RECORD DEAL Former Notre Dame All-American safety Kyle Hamilton made some NFL history Aug. 27, when he signed a lucra- tive four-year contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens that's worth up to $100 million. The new deal comes with $82 mil- lion guaranteed and makes the Atlanta product the highest paid safety in league history. Hamilton's new contract also makes the two-time NFL All-Pro honoree the highest paid non-quarterback in Ra- vens' team history. In three seasons with Baltimore, since being selected as the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Hamilton has become one of the top safeties in the league, tallying 250 tack- les, 18 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 5 inter- ceptions and 27 passes broken up. Hamilton's rookie contract was set to expire after this season. And with this deal, the Ravens avoid any further ne- gotiations with the two-time Pro Bowl selection before the 2025 season begins. "I wanted to get [the deal] done be- cause I feel like it would've been a dis- traction," Hamilton said upon his signing. "It's just human nature to think about those things, even though I try not to. The Ravens, credit to them, they did a great job just engaging in conversation. I was included in everything going on. It was really professionally done on both sides. "If it hadn't gotten done, it wouldn't have been a huge deal. But I'm glad it did." ✦ FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Brandon Aubrey (Played at Notre Dame from 2013-16), PK, Dallas Cowboys, NFL As a tune-up for the regular season, the two-time NFL All-Pro made all 5 of 5 field goal s and 6 of 6 extra points during the preseason. After playing only soccer at Notre Dame, this St. Louis native has become arguably the best placekicker in the NFL, missing only nine tries in 85 attempts (89.4 percent) during his first two seasons with the Cowboys. Max Hurleman, (2024), WR/RB, Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Versatility as both a runner and a receiver is what inspired the Steelers to invite Hurleman to training camp as an undrafted free agent. And the Wyomissing, Pa., native made an immediate impact. In his first NFL preseason game Aug. 9, Hurleman made a 3-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter of the Steelers' 31-25 win over Jacksonville and added a 26- yard reception later in the game. The special team ace's performance throughout training camp earned him a spot on Pittsburgh's practice squad to begin the season. Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB/DE, Cleveland Browns, NFL The first-year Browns' defender made a great first impression with his new team when he recorded 6 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 pass defended in three preseason wins for Cleveland. He opened the season on the Browns' practice squad. The Charlotte, N.C., native and 2020 third-round draft pick signed with the Browns in April, after spending last season with the Arizona Cardinals. Appreciation And Production Keep Kyren Williams In Los Angeles I R I S H I N T H E P R O S Williams inked a three-year, $33 million deal — with $23 million guaranteed — to stay with the Rams, making him the seventh-highest-paid run- ning back in the NFL. PHOTO COURTESY LOS ANGELES RAMS