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Former Notre Dame DT Rylie Mills picked by Seattle Seahawks in fifth round of NFL Draft

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•04/26/25•

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Rylie Mills
Notre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills. (Mike Miller/Blue & Gold)

There had to have been a moment in December or sometime thereafter, when Rylie Mills was told he’d never play another down for Notre Dame because of a season- and career-ending knee injury, when Mills realized his next snap would come in the colors of an NFL team to be named later.

That team said Mills’ name Saturday.

The Seattle Seahawks selected Mills with the No. 142 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Hampered in the pre-draft process by the knee injury he suffered against Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Mills can take a deep breath and look forward to getting to work as an NFL’er. He’s earned the right by way of everything he did before his college career came crashing down four months ago.

Mills spent five seasons in South Bend. He was a contributor right away for the Fighting Irish, playing in nine of 12 games as a true freshman for a Notre Dame team that went 10-0 in the regular season and earned a spot in the 2020 College Football Playoff. His first career start came against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, a CFP semifinal game the Irish lost by 17 points.

By the time he was a true sophomore, Mills was a staple. He played in all 13 Irish games in 2021. His most memorable appearance was a two-sack game in a 28-3 win at Virginia in November. It signaled to then-Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman he had a player in Mills he would lean on for years to come.

Lean on Mills, Freeman did. Defensive coordinator Al Golden, too.

“Rylie means everything,” Golden said. “Rylie is an anchor. He’s a leader. Same guy every day. Consistent. Shows ruggedness. Will do the dirty work.”

Mills was on the field for 415 defensive snaps in 2023. In 2024 and 2025, Mills logged 535 and 539 defensive snaps, respectively. He was as dependable as defensive linemen come until he went down with the knee injury against Indiana.

Even with missing the final three games of the season, Mills led Notre Dame with 7.5 sacks in 2024. He finished with 17 for his career. He also had 131 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles in 62 appearances.

Mills earned the high honor of Notre Dame team captain in his final season with the Irish. He’ll be a strong locker room guy from the very start in the NFL. Half a decade in a blue and gold uniform only bodes well for the future of the 6-5, 295-pound wrecking ball.

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