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Notre Dame in the NFL: Michael Mayer scores first TD since rookie year

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble10/14/25jacksoble56
michael mayer
Former Notre Dame and current Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

It’s been a difficult career thus far for former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, who broke several records with the Irish. He hasn’t put up the numbers he hoped, his team drafted a tight end in the first round the year after it took him, he had to take several weeks off last year for personal reasons and he hadn’t scored a touchdown since December of his rookie season.

Until, that is, this past Sunday.

Mayer caught 5 passes on 7 targets for 50 yards and that touchdown, helping the Raiders defeat the Titans 20-10.

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame athlete in the NFL performed in Week 6.

Joe Alt (2019-21), OT, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: W, 29-27 over Dolphins

Alt (ankle) missed his second-straight game. The Chargers still have not placed him on injured reserve, though, so he shouldn’t miss more than one more.

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

Result: L, 30-27 to Panthers

Aubrey made both his field-goal attempts, with a long of 28.

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

Result: W, 27-18 over Bengals

Banks returned from a two-game absence in Week 6, allowing 1 pressure and earning a 70.4 PFF pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: W, 24-14 over Bills

Bertand played 20 snaps on special teams.

Beaux Collins (2024), WR, New York Giants

Result: W, 34-17 over Eagles

Collins played 4 offensive snaps and was not targeted.

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

Result: L, 27-18 to Packers

Cross was active but did not see the field.

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

Result: W, 25-24 over Commanders

Daly snapped 8 times successfully, 2 on punts and 6 on kicks, including this one.

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

Result: W, 30-27 over Cowboys

Evans caught his lone target for a 21-yard gain. He was also PFF’s highest-graded Panther at 89.7, which included an 84.9 run-blocking grade in 25 reps.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: L, 17-3 to Rams

Gilman made his Ravens debut, starting and playing 44 snaps after being traded to Baltimore last week. He made 7 tackles, including 2 defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense).

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: L, 25-19 to Patriots

Grupe made all 4 of his field-goal attempts, with a long of 54.

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

Result: L, 20-12 to Seahawks

Hainsey allowed 2 pressures and finished with a 48.9 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: L, 17-3 to Rams

Hamilton made 4 tackles and picked up 2 quarterback pressures.

Thomas Harper (2023), S, Detroit Lions

Result: L, 30-17 to Chiefs

Harper played just 10 defensive snaps, but he made a key pass breakup on fourth down against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

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

Result: W, 29-27 over Dolphins

Hart played 23 snaps off the bench, allowing 3 receptions on 4 targets for 75 yards.

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

Result: W, 30-27 over Cowboys

Jansen snapped 8 times successfully, 6 on kicks and 2 on punts.

Jack Kiser (2019-24), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Result: L, 20-12 to Seahawks

Kiser played 20 special teams snaps.

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

Result: W, 25-24 over Commanders

Kmet caught a pass for no gain, although he did have a 10-yard gain canceled out by an unnecessary penalty.

Riley Leonard (2024), QB, Indianapolis Colts

Result: W, 31-27 over Cardinals

Leonard, the only former Notre Dame quarterback on a 53-man roster, was active as the Colts’ backup for the first time this season due to a pregame injury to usual QB2 Anthony Richardson. However, he did not play.

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

Result: L, 30-27 to Panthers

Liufau made 4 tackles, including a sack.

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

Result: W, 20-12 over Jaguars

Love (hamstring) missed Week 6.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Chicago Bears

Result: W, 25-24 over Commanders

McCloud played 5 defensive snaps, making 2 tackles.

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

Result: W, 13-11 over Jets

McGlinchey allowed 3 pressures but earned a 73.3 PFF run-blocking grade.

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

Result: W, 30-19 over 49ers

Morrison (hamstring) missed his second-straight game.

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

Result: W, 31-27 over Cardinals

Nelson had a banner game in what’s become a vintage season. He produced a 90.0 PFF offense grade, which led all offensive linemen in Week 6.

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

Result: BYE

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: W, 23-9 over Browns

Skowronek played 19 snaps on special teams, making a tackle.

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

Result: BYE

Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions

Result: L, 30-17 to Chiefs

Smith was active for the first time this season, but he did not play.

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

Result: W, 25-24 over Commanders

Smythe played 8 snaps, primarily as a blocker.

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

Result: L, 17-3 to Rams

Stanley played 23 snaps before leaving the game due to a nagging ankle injury.

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

Result: W, 30-17 over Lions

Tillery played 12 defensive snaps but was held off the stat sheet.

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

Result: W, 30-17 over Lions

Tranquill made 3 tackles, including a tackle for loss.

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

Result: W, 30-27 over Cowboys

Tremble caught all 4 of his targets for 39 yards.

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

Result: W, 24-14 over Bills

Watts made 5 tackles, but he was credited with allowing a 16-yard touchdown in coverage.

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

Result: W, 17-3 over Ravens

Williams ran 13 times for 50 yards and a touchdown, and he added 2 receptions for 37 yards — including this incredible catch on fourth-and-3.

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

Result: L, 30-17 to Chiefs

Wright was not targeted.

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

The Colts signed Pride to their practice squad last week.

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve