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Notre Dame in the NFL: Julian Love wrecks game for Seahawks

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•09/10/24•

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julian love-2
Former Notre Dame and current Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love. (Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images)

After making the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Seattle Seahawks, former Notre Dame safety Julian Love was rewarded with a three-year, $33 million contract extension. However, he doesn’t seem intent on slowing down any time soon.

Case in point: Love totaled 12 tackles, including a tackle for loss and 4 defensive stops (tackles that constitute a failure for the offense) in a Week 1 matchup with the Denver Broncos. He also forced a fumble, allowed only 23 yards in coverage on 6 targets (3.8 yards per attempt) and came down with an interception. Love dominated in all facets.

The Seahawks won 26-20, which they might not have done without Love’s contributions. The safety out of Notre Dame began his career with the New York Giants, but he’s becoming a star in Seattle after signing there as a free agent in March 2023.

Here’s how every other Notre Dame football player in the NFL — there are 38 of them, including Love, on active rosters — did in Week 1.

Joe Alt (2021-23), OL, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 22-10 win over Raiders

Alt allowed only one pressure, but he pitched a shutout against star Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.

Brandon Aubrey (2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 33-17 win over Browns

Aubrey, the former Notre Dame soccer star, picked up right where he left off after his sensational rookie season. He made 4-of-4 field-goal attempts, including a long of 57. He also hit a 66-yard field goal that would have tied the NFL record for longest make in a game, but a delay-of-game penalty wiped it out.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 32-19 win over Jets

Banks helped the 49ers rush for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he posted a 100 percent pass-block win rate, per ESPN.

JD Bertrand (2019-23), LB, Atlanta Falcons

Result: 18-10 loss to Steelers

Want to be an NFL backup? Play special teams. Bertrand totaled 23 snaps across five ST units, making 1 tackle.

Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Chicago Bears

Result: 24-17 win over Titans

The Bears signed Daly shortly after cutdown day, and he snapped 10 times successfully, 6 on punts and 4 on field goals.

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins

Result: 20-17 win over Jaguars

Eichenberg gave up a sack, but that was it in terms of pressures allowed. He also put up an 80.1 Pro Football Focus offense grade, thanks to his work as a run blocker.

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Jalen Elliott (2016-19), S, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 18-10 win over Falcons

Elliott was a healthy scratch.

Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, Denver Broncos

Result: 26-20 loss to Seahawks

Estimé rushed twice for 15 yards.

Blake Fisher (2021-23), OT, Houston Texans

Result: 29-27 win over Colts

Fisher is behind two established starters (Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard), so he did not play on offense. He is the primary backup to both, and he played 5 special-teams snaps (all on the field goal unit).

Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints

Result: 47-10 win over Panthers

Foskey made the most of his 11 snaps, totaling 4 tackles, including a defensive stop.

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 22-10 win over Raiders

Gilman picked up 4 tackles, including 2 defensive stops. He was targeted once, which was caught for 8 yards, in 41 coverage snaps.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 47-10 win over Panthers

It was an excellent day for Notre Dame kickers in the NFL, as Grupe made all 4 of his field-goal attempts, including a 57-yarder. He also made all 5 of his PATs.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Result: 37-20 win over Commanders

Hainsey did not play offense, but he did play 7 snaps on the field-goal unit.

Kyle Hamilton (2019-2021), S, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 27-20 loss to Ravens

Hamilton made 3 tackles, but he was also credited with 3 missed tackles and a touchdown in coverage.

Thomas Harper (2023), DB, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 22-10 loss to Chargers

Harper was a healthy scratch, having been claimed off waivers from the Chargers after cutdown day.

Cam Hart (2019-2023), CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 22-10 win over Raiders

Hart played 15 snaps on special teams in his debut.

Sam Hartman (2023), QB, Washington Commanders

Result: 37-20 loss to Buccaneers

Hartman was a healthy scratch, but NFL rules allow him to serve as the “emergency” third QB (in case both the starter and the backup get hurt).

J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

Result: 47-10 loss to Saints

Jansen snapped 7 times successfully, 5 on punts and 2 on field goals.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders

Result: 37-20 loss to Buccaneers

Jean-Baptiste posted a quarterback hit, playing 20 defensive snaps.

Brandon Joseph (2022), S, Detroit Lions

Result: 26-20 OT win over Rams

Joseph played 9 snaps on special teams.

Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears

Result: 24-17 win over Titans

Kmet caught one pass for four yards.

Marist Liufau (2019-23), LB, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 33-17 win over Browns

Liufau played 9 snaps, totaling 2 tackles and a quarterback pressure.

Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 33-17 win over Browns

To begin what could be his final season, Martin allowed 2 pressures, including a sack.

Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 22-10 loss to Chargers

Mayer caught 2 passes for 3 yards.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 28-6 loss to Vikings

McCloud made 2 tackles and allowed 2 catches for 29 yards in coverage.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos

Result: 26-20 loss to Seahawks

McGlinchey allowed 3 pressures but posted a 71.5 PFF pass-blocking grade.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts

Result: 28-27 loss to Texans

Nelson showed no signs of slowing down after his sixth Pro Bowl in as many seasons after the Colts drafted him sixth overall out of Notre Dame. He posted a 90.7 PFF offense grade and did not allow a pressure.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns

Result: 33-17 loss to Browns

Owusu-Koramoah made 9 tackles, including 3 defensive stops.

Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans

Result: 29-27 win over Colts

Like Fisher, Patterson played 5 snaps on the field-goal unit.

Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions

Result: 26-20 OT win over Rams

Smith made 1 tackle in 8 defensive snaps after being elevated to the active roster to fill an injury void shortly before Week 1. He was released shortly after the game but will likely return to the practice squad.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 28-6 win over Giants

Smith totaled 7 tackles, as well as his 35th career interception.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

Result: 20-17 win over Jaguars

Smythe was targeted 3 times but did not catch a pass.

Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 27-20 loss to Chiefs

Stanley allowed 2 pressures, but he finished with an 83.3 PFF pass-blocking grade.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 28-6 win over Giants

Tillery totaled 3 pressures, including 2 QB hits.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs

Result: 27-20 win over Ravens

Tranquill made 3 tackles.

Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers 

Result: 47-10 loss to Panthers

Tremble missed Week 1 with both a hamstring and a back injury.

Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 26-20 OT loss to Lions

Williams carried 18 times for 50 yards, but he did find the end zone.

Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions

Result: 26-20 OT win over Rams

Wright caught 1 pass for 2 yards.

Former Notre Dame football players on injured reserve

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

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