Notre Dame in the NFL: Kyle Hamilton's two INTs spark Ravens win over 49ers

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•12/26/23•

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Former Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton went down with a knee injury in the fourth quarter of the Ravens’ Monday night win over the 49ers. It looked like it could be serious when it happened, and it’s still worth monitoring going forward, but Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said after the game that it “doesn’t look that bad.”

That’s good to hear, because it distracts less from rest of Hamilton’s game. And what a game it was.

On San Francisco’s opening drive, quarterback Brock Purdy and the lethal 49ers offense marched down the field. They looked primed to take a 7-0 lead when Purdy fired over the middle toward the end zone, but Hamilton swooped in to intercept the pass.

That was Hamilton’s third interception of the season, and he didn’t wait long for No. 4.

Early in the second quarter, Hamilton came in on a blitz and was illegally chop-blocked by 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey before fellow former Notre Dame player Aaron Banks, San Francisco’s left guard, fell on top of him. Much of the NFL would have given up on the play, but Hamilton got up, dropped back into coverage and found the football for his second interception of the night.

Hamilton added 5 tackles and a pass breakup, giving him 81 and 13, respectively, in his second NFL season. He’s been one of the NFL’s best safeties this season, but even that might be selling him short. Hamilton’s versatility — he lines up everywhere — and playmaking ability make him one of the most dangerous defensive weapons in all of football.

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

Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 22-20 loss to Dolphins

Aubrey made 2 more field goals on 2 attempts to remain perfect this season.

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

Result: 33-19 loss to Ravens

Banks allowed 3 pressures but had his best run-blocking game of the season, according to Pro Football Focus. He earned a 75.2 run-blocking grade.

Unfortunately, Banks injured his toe late in the loss. He told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch that he “aggravated the turf toe injury on his right foot that previously forced him to miss two games.”

Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 34-11 win over Bengals

Boykin caught his lone target for 6 yards.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins

Result: 22-20 win over Cowboys

Claypool played 3 offensive snaps and was not targeted.

Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 30-24 loss to Lions

Day made 1 tackle.

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

Result: 22-20 win over Cowboys

Eichenberg allowed 2 pressures and was given a 41.6 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: 30-22 loss to Rams

Foskey missed his third-straight game with a quad injury.

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

Result: 24-22 loss to Bills

Gilman came down with his first interception of the season. He also made 3 tackles and forced his third fumble of the year.

This is Gilman’s fourth NFL season after being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, which means it’s a contract year. He’s certainly made himself some money in an otherwise bleak campaign for the chargers.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 30-22 loss to Rams

Grupe did not attempt a field goal but made both his extra points.

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

Result: 30-12 win over Jaguars

Hainsey allowed only 1 pressure and earned a 71.9 pass-blocking grade, but his run-blocking dropped his overall grade to 37.3.

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

Result: 36-22 loss to Browns

Hinish made 1 tackle, which was a defensive stop.

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

Result: 33-30 loss to Packers

Jansen snapped successfully 8 times, 4 each on punts and kicks.

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

Result: 27-16 win over Cardinals

Kmet was on his way to a career day and still arguably had one, catching 4 passes for 107 yards despite playing through a quad injury.

However, Kmet hurt his knee while getting tackled after his fourth reception and did not return. The Bears’ hope, according to Chicago Tribune beat writer Brad Biggs, is that Kmet’s injury is not serious.

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

Result: 20-17 win over Titans

Love made 3 tackles and defended a pass, his 10th of the season.

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

Result: 22-20 loss to Dolphins

Martin allowed 2 pressures but earned a 72.0 pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 20-14 win over Chiefs

Mayer missed Week 16 with a toe injury. He was not placed on injured reserve.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 33-25 loss to Eagles

McCloud made 4 tackles and gave up 1 reception for 11 yards.

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

Result: 26-23 loss to Patriots

McGlinchey allowed a sack but produced a 73.7 PFF pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 33-19 win over 49ers

Mustipher was a healthy scratch.

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

Result: 29-10 loss to Falcons

Nelson turned in one of his better pass-blocking days of the season, earning a 79.3 grade. He allowed 2 pressures.

Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions

Result: 30-24 win over Vikings

Okwara played 14 snaps but did not make the stat sheet.

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

Result: 30-24 win over Vikings

Okwara recorded a sack, his second of the season, and forced a fumble.

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

Result: 36-22 win over Texans

Owusu-Koramoah intercepted a pass off a deflection. He added 6 tackles, 2 of which were defensive stops, and a pass breakup.

That was Owusu-Koramoah’s second interception in as many weeks, adding to what certainly looks like a Pro Bowl season.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 30-22 win over Saints

Skowronek played 1 offensive snap and was not targeted. He does, however, lead the NFL in special-teams tackles with 11.

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

Result: 30-24 loss to Lions

Smith made 5 tackles.

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

Result: 22-20 win over Cowboys

Smythe caught 5 passes for 56 yards, both of which are season highs for the sixth-year pro.

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

Result: 33-19 win over 49ers

Stanley did not allow a pressure and earned a 71.8 PFF pass-blocking grade.

Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears

Result: 27-16 win over Cardinals

St. Brown remains out with a pec injury that has sidelined him since Nov. 27.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders 

Result: 20-14 win over Chiefs

Tillery totaled 2 tackles and 3 quarterback pressures, adding to what has quietly been a solid season for him.

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

Result: 20-14 loss to Raiders

Tranquill made 3 tackles.

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

Result: 33-30 loss to Packers

Tremble caught 4 passes on 6 targets for 59 yards. All of those represent season highs for the 2021 third-round pick.

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

Result: 30-22 win over Saints

Williams carried 22 times for 104 yards and a touchdown, crossing 1,000 yards in his second season. It was his third-straight game with at least 100 rushing yards and sixth-straight with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.

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

Result: 30-24 win over Vikings

Wright missed Week 16 with a hip injury.

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

News: The Raiders released former Notre Dame cornerback Troy Pride Jr. from their practice squad Thursday.

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