Notre Dame’s NFL footprint was everywhere in Week 1, and the opening stretch of the season delivered a little bit of everything for former Fighting Irish standouts: touchdowns, tackles, takeaways and a few strong pro debuts.
The first punch landed on the Wednesday night season opener. Patriots tight end Eli Raridon got the 2026 NFL season started with the first touchdown of the year, hauling in a two-yard corner route in the back of the end zone. Seattle countered with production of its own from a pair of Irish alums, as running back Jadarian Price made his NFL debut and ran for 52 yards on 11 carries while leading the Seahawks offense.
The Seahawks also got a big night on defense from Julian Love, who served as captain and turned in six tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and an interception. Defensive tackle Rylie Mills added two tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss in the same game.
Thursday night brought more Notre Dame involvement when the Rams met the 49ers in Australia. Kyren Williams handled the work for Los Angeles, finishing with 41 yards on 11 carries and the game’s only touchdown. Across the field, defensive lineman Khalid Kareem posted two tackles.
Sunday’s action kept the trend going. Benjamin Morrison entered for the 1:00 PM slate after an injury to the starting field corner and finished with four tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and a pass defensed. He was far from alone among Irish defenders making noise.
Thomas Harper of the Detroit Lions had three tackles and a pass defensed. Kyle Hamilton added five tackles and one hit on the quarterback for the Ravens.
Xavier Watts finished with four total tackles in the Falcons’ road loss to the Steelers. Cam Hart chipped in six total tackles and a pass defensed for the Chargers.
The offensive side had its share of highlights too. Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love rushed for 41 yards on 11 attempts and scored a rushing touchdown in his NFL debut. In prime time, Giants wide receiver Malachi Fields got the start against the Dallas Cowboys and caught two passes for 25 yards in New York’s 28-20 win.
Chicago tight end Cole Kmet also got involved, catching two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown in the Bears’ road game against the Panthers, where Mitchell Evans and Tommy Tremble combined for four catches and 34 receiving yards.
The weekend ended with a long list of former Notre Dame players already making an imprint on the league, and for names like Love, Price, Fields and Morrison, it sounds like the first chapter is just beginning. And there’s still more Irish action ahead, with Mike McGlinchey, Drue Tranquill and Alohi Gilman set for Monday Night Football when the Broncos face the Chiefs.
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Tyler Plantzs abrupt dismissal at Providence Catholic High School has raised eyebrows well beyond the local football scene, especially for Notre Dame fans who remember him as a former walk-on fullback with the Irish. His tenure ended despite a 4-0 start and a strong overall record, leaving the program in the middle of a promising run when the school opted to make a change.
Providence Catholic said only that it wanted to move in a new direction, offering no detailed explanation for the move. Plantz has said concerns were raised about recruiting and organizational issues, which he disputes, and the lack of clarity has left the firing with one big unanswered question: why a coach who was winning got let go now. [Read more 🡒]
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Still, the performance did not erase one lingering concern: the run game has not yet shown the kind of burst Notre Dame wants. The Irish have drawn criticism for a lack of explosiveness on the ground, and Marcus Freeman acknowledged after the win that more big plays are needed there. For a team with bigger goals ahead, getting the rushing attack moving from steady to dangerous remains one of the most important things to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Is Trying To Separate In A Crowded Chase For 2028 Wing
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Rogers has pointed to frequent contact from Notre Dame and Utah, while assistant coaches from Hofstra and Utah have also been in steady pursuit. Notre Dame is set to attend an open gym session at Rogers' school, another sign that the Irish want to keep separating themselves in a crowded field before this recruitment gets even more competitive. [Read more 🡒]