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Which former Notre Dame football players made NFL rosters?

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•08/28/24•

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Former Notre Dame defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste. (Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)

Tuesday was cut-down day in the NFL, and 35 former Notre Dame players made their respective teams’ initial roster.

Two more will start the season on injured reserve, while 14 were released as part of final cuts. Many will likely stick on practice squads or be claimed by other teams.

Here’s a complete list of every former Notre Dame football player who will open the NFL season on an active roster.

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

Alt played mostly right tackle in his first preseason, and he played well. He’s an instant starter for LA.

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

Aubrey, the former Notre Dame soccer player turned kicker, is back for Round 2 after his sensational rookie season.

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

Banks has dealt with some minor injuries in camp, but he’s in line to start at left guard again for San Francisco.

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

Bertrand impressed in preseason, posting 3 run stops and 2 tackles for loss with an 88.4 Pro Football Focus defense grade on Aug. 17 against the Ravens.

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

Eichenberg, entering a contract year, is listed as the Dolphins’ first-team right guard.

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

Elliott was not expected to make the 53-man roster after his release, then re-signing over the summer. But that’s what he did. Elliott has appeared in eight NFL games — all in 2021 — making one start.

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

Estimé showed promise as a goal-line back in preseason, scoring twice for Denver.

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

Fisher won’t start right away — the Texans have two strong veterans manning the OT spots — which means he’ll get to develop on his own timeline. Houston seems to like him a great deal.

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

Foskey was reportedly on the roster bubble entering his second season after the Saints selected him in the second round.

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

Gilman earned himself a two-year, just over $10 million contract with a strong fourth season. He returns to the Chargers as a leader in the secondary.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Grupe made 30 of his 37 field-goal attempts as a rookie, which was good enough to earn him the Saints’ kicker job in Year 2.

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

Hainsey lost his starting job to rookie first-round pick Graham Barton, and he’ll serve as the Bucs’ backup center.

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

Hamilton might be one of the 10 best defensive players in the NFL. He was incredible in his second year, and he’s a valuable chess piece who can move all over the field.

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

Hart drew positive reviews in his first training camp, but he’ll start his career as a depth corner.

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

Jansen holds the Panthers’ franchise record for games played with the franchise at 243, and counting.

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

Jean-Baptiste made the Commanders’ roster, which can be a difficult thing to do as a rookie seventh-round pick. He had a productive preseason, totaling 8 solo tackles and a sack.

Brandon Joseph (2022), S, Detroit Lions

Joseph, an undrafted free agent in 2023, made the Lions’ roster. He’ll make his NFL debut in September if he sticks.

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

Kmet might be Chicago’s fourth option after the acquisitions of Rome Odunze (draft) and Keenan Allen (free agency). But he’s going to be a valued member of the Bears’ passing attack, led by rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

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

Liufau made some disruptive plays in preseason, and he looks like he’ll have a role for a Cowboys team that plans to contend in the NFC.

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

Love was paid nicely after his Pro Bowl first season in Seattle, earning a 3-year, $33 million contract extension over the offseason.

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

Martin is one of the best guards of all time, and this might be his final season. He told the Dallas Morning News that he’s considering retirement in 2025.

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

Mayer will have to compete with first-round pick Brock Bowers for reps at tight end, but the Raiders plan to use plenty of 12 personnel this season.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

McCloud could start at cornerback for the Giants, but if not, he’ll serve as a valuable special teams contributor.

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

In his second year with the Broncos, McGlinchey will protect rookie quarterback Bo Nix at right tackle.

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

Nelson is coming off his sixth Pro Bowl nod in as many seasons, so it’s business as usual for the future Hall of Famer in Indianapolis.

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

Owusu-Koramoah’s contract extension came in at a team-friendly three years, $39 million, but it’s a contract extension nonetheless. He’s a stud in the middle of what was the NFL’s top defense (in terms of yards per game) last season.

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

Patterson started at center as a rookie but may have lost his job due to injury, as fellow then-rookie Juice Scruggs played well in his place. Still, he has a bright future along the interior offensive line.

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

Coming off his best season (35 receptions for 366 yards), Smythe will be the Dolphins’ starting tight end once again.

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

Smith flirted with retirement over the offseason, but he ultimately decided to come back for one more year. He’s coming off a down year with interceptions, but he tallied 3 sacks and forced 3 fumbles, along with 93 tackles in 2023.

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

Stanley played 13 games last year, his most since 2019. He wasn’t quite the same player, but he remains a quality starting tackle for the Ravens.

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

Tillery is in line to start at defensive tackle for a rebuilding Vikings D-line in his first year with Minnesota.

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

Tranquill’s one-year, prove-it deal with the Chiefs paid off, and they rewarded the Super Bowl champion with a 3-year, $19 million extension. He’s in line to start alongside tackling machine Nick Bolton.

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

Tremble has been a victim of an abysmal Panthers passing offense the past three years, but he’ll open his contract year as the No. 1 tight end.

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

Williams was the second-most productive running back on a per-game basis in the NFL last season, only behind San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey. The Rams drafted Michigan’s Blake Corum to back him up, but Williams is the bell cow again in LA.

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

Wright, a valuable blocking tight end, re-upped with Detroit on a three-year, $12 million deal. The 49ers tried to sign him as a restricted free agent, but the Lions matched their offer.

Former Notre Dame football players on injured reserve

Hinish (calf) enjoyed a bit of a coming-out party in Houston’s run to the Divisional round, picking up a sack in back-to-back playoff games. He and Jones will start the season on short-term IR, meaning they can return after a minimum of four weeks.

Former Notre Dame players released as part of final cuts

Several of these players — reportedly including Boykin, Hartman, Harper and Okwara — will likely end up on practice squads. Hartman’s release was a mild surprise, given his unusually large guarantee ($245,000) for an undrafted free agent.

Former Notre Dame players released earlier in training camp

Five years ago, Claypool was a highly-touted rookie second-round pick. Even one year ago, he was a big season with the Chicago Bears away from earning a life-changing contract. But now, he’s in danger of falling out of the league.

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