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Notre Dame in the NFL: Marist Liufau terrorizes Joe Burrow

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•12/10/24•

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marist liufau
Former Notre Dame and current Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau. (Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Former Notre Dame and current Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau stepped into a major role during Monday night’s game against the Bengals. He did not disappoint.

First, Liufau powered his way through a blitz pickup to notch a half-sack on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

Then, on another key third-and-long, Liufau screamed off the edge and brought down Burrow himself.

The five-year Notre Dame veteran was selected higher than many expected, hearing his name called in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Liufau has lived up to that billing so far as a versatile chess piece of a linebacker in Dallas.

Here’s what every other former Notre Dame athlete in the NFL did in Week 14.

Joe Alt (played at Notre Dame from 2021-23), OL, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 19-17 loss to Chiefs

Alt allowed quarterback 1 pressure and finished with a 68.0 PFF pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 27-20 loss to Bengals

Aubrey made both his field-goal attempts with a long of 47.

Kevin Austin Jr. (2018-21), WR, New Orleans Saints

Result: 14-11 win over Giants

Austin caught 1 pass on 5 targets for 5 yards.

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

Result: 38-13 win over Bears

Banks missed Week 14 with a concussion.

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

Result: 42-21 loss to Vikings

Bertrand played 24 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 38-13 loss to 49ers

Daly snapped 7 times, 6 on punts and 1 on field goals.

Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Washington Commanders

Result: BYE

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

Result: 32-26 OT win over Jets

Eichenberg allowed 2 quarterback pressures and posted a 54.8 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 14-11 win over Giants

Foskey made 2 tackles in 5 defensive snaps.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 14-11 win over Giants

Grupe went 0-of-2 on field-goal attempts, both from 50-plus yards out.

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

Result: 28-13 win over Raiders

Hainsey played 4 snaps on special teams.

Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens

Result: BYE

Thomas Harper (2023), DB, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 28-13 loss to Buccaneers

Harper earned a 73.1 PFF coverage grade in 15 defensive snaps.

Cam Hart (2019-23), CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 19-17 loss to Chiefs

Hart made 3 tackles and picked up a quarterback hit. He also made this outstanding pass breakup against Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans

Result: BYE

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

Result: 22-16 loss to Eagles

Jansen snapped 6 times, 3 on punts and 3 on field goals.

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

Result: BYE

Brandon Joseph (2022), S, Detroit Lions

Result: 34-31 win over Packers

Joseph played 5 defensive snaps.

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

Result: 38-13 loss to 49ers

Kmet was not targeted.

Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks

Result: 30-18 win over Cardinals

Love made 7 tackles and broke up a pass. He allowed receptions on neither of his 2 targets.

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

Result: 28-13 loss to Buccaneers

Mayer played the best game of his young career, with 7 catches on 9 targets for 68 yards, including a 29-yarder.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 38-13 win over Bears

McCloud made 1 tackle.

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

Result: BYE

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 19-17 loss to Chiefs

Mustipher played 3 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: BYE

Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Arizona Cardinals

Result: 30-18 loss to Seahawks

Okwara made 2 tackles.

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

Result: BYE

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 27-14 win over Browns

Skowronek was not targeted, but he made 2 tackles on special teams.

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

Result: 42-21 win over Falcons

Smith made 5 tackles, including a tackle for loss.

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

Result: 32-26 OT win over Jets

Smythe was targeted once but did not catch a pass.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 42-21 win over Falcons

Tillery made 2 tackles.

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

Result: 19-17 win over Chargers

Tranquill made 7 tackles and notched a quarterback hit.

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

Result: 22-16 loss to Eagles

Tremble caught a 3-yard touchdown pass.

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

Result: 44-42 loss to Bills

Williams carried 29 times for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he caught 2 passes for 10 yards as well. He led the NFL in missed tackles forced among running backs, according to PFF.

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

Result: 34-31 win over Packers

Wright did not catch his lone target.

Former Notre Dame football players on injured reserve

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

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