Notre Dame in the NFL: Drue Tranquill helps Chiefs dispatch Bills

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•01/23/24•

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In Sunday night’s Divisional Round game, the Chiefs shut out the Bills in the fourth quarter and advanced to the AFC Championship, winning 27-24. A big part of that was former Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill.

Tranquill made 7 tackles, including 4 defensive stops and a tackle for loss, when he brought down Bills running back James Cook for a loss of 3. That TFL led to a turnover on downs in that series.

Pro football Focus thought Tranquill was one of the Chiefs’ best players, giving him an 86.3 overall grade.

After the game, Bills fans started throwing snowballs at the visiting Chiefs players. Tranquill caught one, and he looked like he was about to throw it back at the fans. He later confirmed that that was the case in this excellent social media post.

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player who made it to the Divisional Round did this past weekend. Seven of the nine advanced to Championship Sunday.

Aaron Banks (Played at Notre Dame from 2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 24-21 win over Packers

Banks allowed 5 pressures, but he earned a 70.1 PFF run-blocking grade. He made a great block on star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey’s 39-yard touchdown run.

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

Result: 31-23 loss to Lions

Hainsey allowed 4 pressures and was given a 52.3 overall grade.

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

Result: 34-10 win over Texans

Hamilton made 3 tackles, 2 of which were defensive stops, and tallied a quarterback pressure on 1 of his 3 pass-rush snaps.

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

Result: 34-10 loss to Ravens

Hinish capped his impressive playoff debut with a sack of Ravens quarterback and likely NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.

That was Hinish’s second playoff sack in as many games. He also picked up an additional pressure and made 3 tackles.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 34-10 win over Texans

Mustipher was a healthy scratch.

Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions 

Result: 31-23 win over Buccaneers

Okwara played 38 snaps but was held off the stat sheet.

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

Result: 34-10 win over Texans

Stanley made the decision of whom to lead this story with quite difficult. He was phenomenal, allowing zero pressures and making an dynamic lead block for Jackson on a fourth-and-1 conversion.

Late in the game, he led the way for Jackson again. It was the exact same play, and this time it went for a game-winning touchdown.

Stanley finished with an 80.5 PFF grade, including an 88.0 mark in pass protection.

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

Result: 31-23 win over Buccaneers

Wright caught 1 pass for 29 yards, rumbling down the left sideline and making a would-be tackler look silly midway through his run after the catch. His big play set up a Lions touchdown.

Former Notre Players eliminated from playoff contention

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve

Former Notre Dame players on practice squads

Former Notre Dame players on futures deals

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