Notre Dame in the NFL: Kyren Williams shines as multi-purpose star

NFL teams want running backs who can do it all, and few do that better than former Notre Dame star Kyren Williams.
Williams, in his fourth year with the Los Angeles Rams, had his best game of the 2025 season on Sunday. The Rams lost 33-26 to the Philadelphia Eagles, but Williams carried 20 times for 94 yards (4.7 yards per attempt) and caught 2 passes for 18 yards.
One of those receptions went for Williams’ second touchdown of the season and 33rd of his career.
Williams’ best trait, though, is that he does the dirty work. The result of the play is not important, but watch what the former Notre Dame running back did to Eagles rookie linebacker Jihad Campbell.
That will make Williams’ coaches very happy, which he’ll continue to do for the next three years after his recent contract extension.
Here’s how every former Notre Dame athlete in the NFL did in Week 3.
Joe Alt (2019-21), OT, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 23-20 win over Broncos
Alt produced his highest overall and run-blocking grades of the season on Pro Football Focus at 80.0 and 79.0, respectively. He did allow his first sack of the season, but he graded at 75.6 as a pass blocker anyway.
Brandon Aubrey (2017-20), K, Dallas Cowboys)
Result: 31-14 loss to Bears
Aubrey made both his field-goal attempts with a long of 53. He’s now 4-of-4 on field goals from 50-plus yards out this season and 28-of-31 in his career.
Kevin Austin Jr. (2018-21), WR, New Orleans Saints
Result: 44-13 loss to Seahawks
The Saints elevated Austin from their practice squad to their active roster on Saturday. He did not catch his lone target and was waived after the game, but logic dictates he will return to the PS.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), G, Green Bay Packers
Result: 13-10 loss to Browns
Banks allowed a sack and finished with a 12.1 PFF pass-blocking grade.
JD Bertrand (2019-23), LB, Atlanta Falcons
Result: 30-0 loss to Panthers
Bertrand played 20 snaps on special teams, making 1 assisted tackle. He also played a snap on defense for the first time this year.
Beaux Collins (2024), WR, New York Giants
Result: 22-9 loss to Chiefs
Collins was not targeted.
Howard Cross III (2019-24), DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Result: 48-10 loss to Vikings
Cross was active for the first time this season, playing 9 snaps and recording his first tackle.
Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Chicago Bears
Result: 31-14 win over Cowboys
Daly snapped successfully 9 times, for once more on kicks (5) than punts (4).
Mitchell Evans (2021-24), TE, Carolina Panthers
Result: 30-0 win over Falcons
Evans caught his lone target for 9 yards.
Blake Fisher (2021-23), OT, Houston Texans
Result: 17-10 loss to Jaguars
Fisher was a healthy scratch.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 23-20 win over Broncos
Gilman made 2 tackles, but he was credited with allowing a 52-yard touchdown reception.
Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints
Result: 44-13 loss to Seahawks
Grupe made 2 short field goals, but he missed a 52-yarder as well.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Jacksonville Jaguars
Result: 17-10 win over Texans
Hainsey allowed his first 2 pressures of the season, but he earned a 68.3 PFF run-blocking grade.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 38-30 loss to Lions
Hamilton made 9 tackles and allowed 2 catches for 31 yards in coverage.
Thomas Harper (2023), S, Detroit Lions
Result: 38-30 win over Ravens
Harper was a healthy scratch.
Cam Hart (2019-23), CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 23-20 win over Broncos
Hart missed Week 3 with a hip injury.
JJ Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Result: 30-0 win over Falcons
Jansen snapped 9 times successfully, 6 on field goals and 3 on punts.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders
Result: 41-24 win over Raiders
Jean-Baptiste recorded his first sack of the season and second of his career.
Jack Kiser (2019-24), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Result: 17-10 win over Texans
Kiser played 12 snaps on special teams.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Result: 31-14 win over Cowboys
Kmet caught his lone target for a 10-yard touchdown.
Riley Leonard (2024), QB, Indianapolis Colts
Result: 41-20 win over Titans
Leonard — the only former Notre Dame quarterback on an active NFL roster — was a healthy scratch with an “emergency third quarterback” designation (meaning he could have played if and only if the two active QBs got hurt).
Marist Liufau (2019-23), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 31-14 loss to Bears
Liufau played 8 defensive snaps and was credited with allowing a 31-yard reception.
Julian Love (2015-18), S, Seattle Seahawks
Result: 44-13 win over Saints
Love missed Week 3 with a hamstring injury.
Michael Mayer (2021-23), TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 41-24 loss to Commanders
Mayer did not catch his lone target.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Chicago Bears
Result: 31-14 win over Cowboys
McCloud made 5 tackles, including 2 defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense). He also allowed 3 receptions for 49 yards on 4 targets.
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Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, Denver Broncos
Result: 23-20 loss to Chargers
McGlinchey allowed 4 pressures and was given a 57.9 PFF offense grade.
Benjamin Morrison (2022-24), CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Result: 29-27 win over Jets
Morrison played 18 snaps off the bench, allowing 2 receptions on 2 targets for just 5 yards. He made 2 tackles, including this tackle for loss.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), G, Indianapolis Colts
Result: 41-20 win over Titans
Nelson allowed 1 pressure, but he finished with a 68.8 PFF run-blocking grade.
Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), C, Houston Texans
Result: 17-10 loss to Jaguars
Patterson played 3 snaps on special teams.
Spencer Shrader (2023), K, Indianapolis Colts
Result: 41-20 win over Titans
Shrader made 2 field goals with a long of 36, but he missed a 51-yarder. That was his first miss of the season.
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Result: 21-14 win over Patriots
Skowronek played 12 snaps on special teams. He has not been targeted since his touchdown in Week 1.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 48-10 win over Bengals
Smith (illness) made his season debut with 22 snaps off the bench. He made 1 assisted tackle, but he also made this incredible pass breakup that led to an interception.
Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions
Result: 38-30 win over Ravens
Smith was a healthy scratch.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Chicago Bears
Result: 31-14 win over Cowboys
Smythe played 23 offensive snaps, 20 of which came as a blocker.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 38-30 loss to Lions
Stanley allowed 1 of the Lions’ 7 sacks on Monday night, but he still earned an 81.3 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Result: 22-9 win over Giants
Tillery notched a QB pressure, but he missed his lone tackle attempt.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Result: 22-9 win over Giants
Tranquill made 5 tackles, but he earned an 89.4 PFF defense grade — primarily for his work in coverage.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Result: 30-0 win over Falcons
Tremble caught 2 passes for 16 yards.
Xavier Watts (2020-24), S, Atlanta Falcons
Result: 30-0 loss to Panthers
Watts made 9 tackles, including 2 defensive stops. Notably, he has not been credited with a missed tackle yet this season.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Result: 38-30 win over Ravens
Wright was not targeted.
Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads
- Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Chicago Bears
- Jordan Clark (2024), NB, New York Jets
- Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Washington Commanders
- Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, Cincinnati Bengals
- Sam Hartman (2023), QB, Washington Commanders
- Max Hurleman (2024), RB/WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Khalid Kareem (2017-19), DE, Atlanta Falcons
- Julian Okwara (2016-19), DE, Cleveland Browns
Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve
- Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
- Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
- Rylie Mills (2020-24), DT, Seattle Seahawks
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns