Notre Dame in the NFL: Drue Tranquill wins Super Bowl with Chiefs
When former Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs this past March, he couldn’t have imagined the year would go better than it did.
Tranquill, who spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, bet on himself by joining a crowded linebacker room that included locked-in starters Nick Bolton and Willie Gay Jr. The Chiefs also had 2022 third-round pick Leo Chenal. If Tranquill didn’t perform, he could have been buried on the bench and potentially forced to hunt for a league-minimum contract after his deal with Kansas City expired.
However, Tranquill performed. And he was rewarded with a Super Bowl LVIII championship.
Bolton, Gay and Chenal started, but Tranquill played 29 snaps and finished with two tackles. More importantly, he’s going home with a ring.
In 16 games and eight starts in the regular season, Tranquill made 78 combined tackles, including 7 tackles for loss. He also defended a pass, forced 2 fumbles and totaled an impressive 4.5 sacks. In the playoffs, Tranquill played in all four games and started the AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens. He finished the postseason with 21 total tackles, including 1 tackle for loss.
Tranquill and the Chiefs were a perfect fit for each other, and along with defensive end Charles Omenihu and safety Mike Edwards, Kansas City was thrilled with its short-term defensive signings.
“With those three guys, the credit goes to Brett Veach and his [personnel staff],” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said before the Super Bowl, according to The Athletic. “That’s one at each level. If you could bank on doing that every year in free agency, wouldn’t that make a huge difference, right? What they’ve done stepping in speaks volumes to how important they’ve been.”
Entering free agency again, Tranquill will have options. The Chiefs probably won’t be able to pay him the most money, as they’re projected to have just over $24 million in cap space but multiple star defenders (defensive tackle Chris Jones, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed) to worry about re-signing first. But Gay is a free agent, too, and Kansas City would likely love to have Tranquill back if he’s willing to accept less money.
If he opts to explore free agency, Tranquill should have multiple suitors based on his 2023-24 performance. And he has all-important playoff experience now, too.
Banks impresses in Super Bowl despite loss
Former Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks has started all season for the 49ers, and the Super Bowl was no different. He impressed Blue & Gold analyst and offensive line expert Tim Hyde.
“Banks was mauling defenders most of the night,” Hyde said. “A bunch of the big runs were off of his seal blocks. The first touchdown, he gets the key block on the double pass to create that lane.”
The replay did indeed show Banks, No. 65 sealing off Gay to spring star running back Christian McCaffrey for a touchdown.
Banks has one year remaining on his rookie contract and should start again next season for a 49ers team that will be a popular pick to reach Super Bowl LIX.
