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Notre Dame in the NFL: Irish send five to Pro Bowl

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble12/23/25jacksoble56

Five Notre Dame alumni were selected to the initial Pro Bowl roster on Tuesday morning: Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, Steelers special teamer Ben Skowronek, Colts guard Quenton Nelson, Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt and Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey.

It’s the first Pro Bowl nod for Alt and Skowronek, the third for Hamilton and Aubrey and the eighth in as many NFL seasons for Nelson.

Here’s a note about each selection and the season they’ve had.

• Hamilton has been a menace in all facets of the game, again. He’s up to 92 tackles, including 7 tackles for loss, 8 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles. The Ravens moved him closer to the line of scrimmage after their defense struggled early — playing him in the box and the slot — and immediately got better due to his playmaking and havoc-wreaking chops.

• Skowronek is tied for third in the NFL with 16 special teams tackles, serving as a gunner on the Steelers’ punt team. He also has 3 receptions for 69 yards as a reserve wide receiver, including Aaron Rodgers‘ first touchdown in a Steelers uniform.

• Nelson had a renaissance season, posting his best PFF offense grade (83.8) since 2020. He particularly excelled as a run blocker, receiving an 85.0 mark there, although he also only allowed 1 sack all season. With Nelson as its anchor, the Colts’ offense ranks sixth in rushing efficiency (4.8 yards per carry) and ninth in sacks allowed (26).

• Alt somehow earned a Pro Bowl selection despite starting only six games this season (and finishing four) due to ankle injuries. But in those six games, he was sensational. Alt allowed just 7 quarterback pressures and 1 sack, earning an 82.3 PFF pass-blocking grade.

• Aubrey is 32-of-36 on field-goal attempts, and he has not missed inside of 50-plus yards. Outside 50-plus, he’s 9-of-13, which is tied for the second-most makes from long-range in the league. Aubrey has made field goals of 64, 61 and 63 yards this year, which is the most FGs from 60-plus yards in a single season in NFL history.

Here’s how every former Notre Dame athlete in the NFL did in Week 16.

Brandon Aubrey (2017-20), K, Dallas Cowboys

Result: L, 34-17 to Chargers

Aubrey made his lone field-goal attempt, from 33 yards out.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), G, Green Bay Packers

Result: L, 22-16 (OT) to Bears

Banks allowed 2 pressures and finished with a 45.6 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: W, 29-6 over Jets

Austin caught 2 passes on 3 targets for 18 yards.

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

Result: W, 26-19 over Cardinals

Bertrand was a healthy scratch.

Jordan Clark (2024), NB, New York Jets

Result: L, 29-6 to Saints

Clark was targeted 9 times, allowing 9 receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. He did make a career-high 5 tackles, though.

Howard Cross III (2019-24), DT, Cincinnati Bengals

Result: W, 45-21 over Dolphins

Cross made 3 tackles.

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

Result: W, 22-16 (OT) over Packers

Daly snapped 7 times successfully, 4 on kicks and 3 on punts.

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

Result: L, 29-18 to Eagles

Day made an assisted tackle.

Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, New Orleans Saints

Result: W, 29-6 over Jets

Estimé carried 5 times for 19 yards. He also caught 3 passes for 17 yards.

Mitchell Evans (2020-24), TE, Carolina Panthers

Result: W, 23-20 over Buccaneers

Evans caught all 3 of his targets for 27 yards.

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

Result: W, 23-21 over Raiders

Fisher started as the Texans’ sixth offensive lineman, playing 19 snaps.

Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, Cincinnati Bengals

Result: W, 45-21 over Dolphins

Foskey made an assisted tackle and registered a quarterback hit.

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Baltimore Ravens

Result: L, 28-24 to Patriots

Gilman made 8 tackles and defended a pass.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, Indianapolis Colts

Result: L, 48-27 to 49ers

Grupe made both his field-goal attempts with a long of 51. He’s a perfect 8-of-8 since getting a chance with the Colts after being cut by the Steelers.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Jacksonville Jaguars

Result: W, 34-20 over Broncos

Hainsey allowed 2 pressures, producing a 60.3 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: L, 28-24 to Patriots

Hamilton made 5 tackles, including a tackle for loss. He was also credited with a pass breakup.

Thomas Harper (2023), S, Detroit Lions

Result: L, 29-24 to Steelers

Harper made 7 tackles, including a tackle for loss. He also defended a pass and forced a fumble.

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

Result: W, 34-17 over Cowboys

Hart allowed 2 receptions for 66 yards on 3 targets.

JJ Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

Result: W, 23-20 over Buccaneers

Jansen snapped 8 times successfully, 3 on punts and 5 on field goals.

Khalid Kareem (2017-19), DE, Atlanta Falcons

Result: W, 26-19 over Cardinals

Kareem produced 2 quarterback pressures on just 5 pass-rush snaps. He also made 2 tackles.

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

Result: W, 22-16 (OT) over Packers

Kmet caught 2 passes for 14 yards on 3 targets.

Riley Leonard (2024), QB, Indianapolis Colts

Result: L, 48-27 to 49ers

Leonard, the only former Notre Dame quarterback on an active NFL roster, got in toward the end of Monday night’s Colts loss. He went 0-for-1.

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

Result: L, 34-17 to Chargers

Liufau made 1 tackle.

Julian Love (2015-18), S, Seattle Seahawks

Result: W, 38-37 (OT) over Rams

Love made 8 tackles and did not allow a reception in coverage.

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

Result: L, 23-21 to Texans

Mayer caught 1 pass on 3 targets.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Chicago Bears

Result: W, 22-16 (OT) over Packers

McCloud allowed 1 reception for 2 yards. He also made 2 solo tackles.

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

Result: L, 34-20 to Jaguars

McGlinchey earned a 90.3 PFF run-blocking grade.

Rylie Mills (2020-24), DT, Seattle Seahawks

Result: W, 38-37 (OT) over Rams

Mills played 6 snaps and made the first tackle of his career.

Benjamin Morrison (2022-24), CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Result: L, 23-20 to Panthers

Morrison allowed 7 receptions on 10 targets for 76 yards. He also made a career-high 7 tackles, including a tackle for loss.

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

Result: L, 48-27 to 49ers

Nelson was given a 58.6 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: W, 23-21 over Raiders

Patterson played 3 offensive snaps, allowing a quarterback pressure.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: W, 29-24 over Lions

Skowronek played 16 snaps on special teams, making a tackle.

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

Result: W, 16-13 over Giants

Smith made 2 tackles.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Chicago Bears

Result: W, 22-16 (OT) over Packers

Smythe was not targeted.

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

Result: L, 28-24 to Patriots

Stanley allowed zero pressures and earned an 80.1 PFF run-blocking grade.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Kansas City Chiefs

Result: L, 26-9 to Titans

Tillery made 3 tackles and picked up a quarterback pressure.

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

Result: L, 26-9 to Titans

Tranquill made 10 tackles, including 5 defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense) and forced a fumble. He also had 2 quarterback pressures.

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

Result: W, 23-20 over Buccaneers

Tremble caught his lone target for 6 yards.

Xavier Watts (2020-24), S, Atlanta Falcons

Result: W, 26-19 over Cardinals

Watts made 5 tackles.

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

Result: L, 38-37 (OT) to Seahawks

Williams carried 23 times for 70 yards. He also caught 3 passes on 6 targets for 15 yards.

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve