Derrek Hamilton, father of former Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, recaps NFL Draft night
The experts, media and general public may have viewed former Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton’s 2022 NFL Draft experience as one filled with disappointment and waiting, as he fell to the No. 14 pick and was ultimately grabbed by the Baltimore Ravens. His family saw it differently.
Last week, Hamilton’s father, Derrek, made a surprise appearance on a Twitter Space hosted by Blue & Gold and provided a detailed glimpse into the Hamilton family’s NFL Draft night in Las Vegas.
“I think Kyle fell in the right place,” the elder Hamilton said. “We didn’t really care about numbers. You can make all the money in the world and go to work and be upset and unhappy. I just want him to be happy, go out and be able to play football, and he has a chance to win a Super Bowl.”
As far as organizations go, the Ravens are a historically good spot. They made the NFL playoffs three of the last four years, they play in one of the more competitive and exciting divisions in the league, and they won a Super Bowl under current head coach John Harbaugh in 2012. The Hamiltons are also family friends with Ozzie Newsome, former Ravens general manager and current executive vice president.
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For Hamilton’s position more specifically, it also a great place to land. The Ravens have developed defensive backs like Ed Reed and Dawan Landry, and top corner Marlon Humphrey is currently on the roster.
Hamilton added his son pretty much knew he would be picked up between No. 7 and No. 14, as the Ravens had already informed him if he was available when it was their pick, they would take him. That was perfectly fine with the Hamilton crew.
“We pretty much wanted him in Baltimore,” his dad said, adding he was wearing purple socks at the draft.
Outside of the subtle wardrobe choice, the Hamiltons were a relatively low key group during draft night.
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“I’ve been around professional sports for a long time, so as you probably saw on TV, we weren’t too excited,” Derrek Hamilton said. “Some things you just sit back and chill and what happens, happens. I think that’s Kyle’s mentality as a person. He’s really laid back.”
Before his son burst onto the professional football scene, Hamilton was a college basketball star at Southern Miss. He was drafted in the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft by the then-New Jersey Nets with the No. 52 selection overall. In other words, he can relate to his son’s journey in a way many parents could not.
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In addition to the Hamilton family, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and safeties coach Chris O’Leary made the trip out to Las Vegas. Hamilton’s agent, Kyle McCarthy, was also present.
As far as next steps go for the family, Kyle participated in Ravens rookie minicamp last week while his parents are back home. They will fly up to Baltimore for games, but they have no intention of getting a place in Maryland.
“He’s a professional starting today,” the elder Hamilton said Thursday. “We’ll go to games, but I will never move with my son. That’s his life. He’s a grown up.
“He earned it, and I’ll just be a dad.”
