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Notre Dame in the NFL: Thomas Harper grabs clutch interception for Lions

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble11/26/25jacksoble56

When Thomas Harper transferred from Oklahoma State to Notre Dame, he didn’t arrive with much fanfare. But he was fantastic at nickel back for the 2023 Irish, and he earned himself a shot in the NFL.

Since Harper left South Bend, he went unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft and signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent. The Chargers cut him after training camp, but the Raiders claimed him off waivers and he spent his rookie year in Las Vegas. Then in August 2025, the Raiders cut him and the Detroit Lions claimed him off waivers again.

Harper was a healthy scratch for the first three weeks of the season. He was elevated to the starting lineup in Week 7, due to injuries at safety. With a opportunity in hand, Harper took full advantage.

On Sunday, as the Lions were trying to avoid an upset at the hands of the New York Giants, Harper stepped up and made a play.

Harper intercepted Giants quarterback Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter with the Lions down by 3, creating a massive takeaway. Detroit would punt on its ensuing possession, but the Lions eventually tied the game and won 34-27 in overtime.

Harper also made 6 tackles, which ties his season high. He’s becoming a key piece for the Lions’ defense, and yet another example of Notre Dame’s growing case for DBU (which will become stronger when at least four its current players reach the next level within the next two seasons).

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame athlete in the NFL did in Week 12.

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

Result: W, 24-21 over Eagles

Aubrey missed his second field goal of the season, from 51 yards out. But he also made a game-winner from 42, giving the Cowboys an upset win.

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

Result: L, 24-10 to Falcons

Austin was called up from the Saints’ practice squad this week but was not targeted.

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

Result: W, 23-6 over Vikings

Banks allowed 1 pressure, producing a PFF pass-blocking grade of 66.6.

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

Result: W, 24-10 over Saints

Bertrand played 20 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: W, 31-28 over Steelers

Daly snapped 9 times successfully, 4 on punts and 5 on field goals.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: L, 24-10 to Falcons

Estimé was a healthy scratch.

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

Result: W, 20-9 over 49ers

Evans was targeted once but did not catch a pass.

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

Result: W, 23-19 over Bills

Fisher played 23 snaps as the Texans’ sixth offensive lineman, allowing no pressures and earning a 76.3 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: L, 26-20 to Patriots

Foskey was elevated from the Bengals’ practice squad, and he played 5 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: W, 23-10 over Jets

Gilman made 1 tackle, posted a quarterback hit and recovered a fumble. The Ravens have held their opponents to 19 or fewer points in six straight games, despite being one of the worst defenses in the NFL in the early going. Not-so-coincidentally, Gilman just played his sixth game in Baltimore.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: L, 24-10 to Falcons

Grupe went 1-of-3 on field goals, hitting from 33 and missing from 38 and 47. Sadly for the former Notre Dame kicker, the Saints released him on Tuesday due to an NFL-leading 8 missed field goals this season.

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

Result: W, 27-20 (OT) over Cardinals

Hainsey allowed 1 pressure and earned a 79.1 PFF pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: W, 23-10 over Jets

Hamilton made a season-high 10 tackles, including 5 defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense). He injured his ankle during the game, but he was back at practice Tuesday.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: W, 20-9 over 49ers

Jansen snapped 7 times successfully, 4 on punts and 3 on field goals.

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

Result: L, 24-10 to Falcons

Kareem was a healthy scratch.

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

Result: W, 27-20 (OT) over Cardinals

Kiser played 14 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: L, 24-10 to Falcons

Kmet caught his lone target for 3 yards.

Riley Leonard (2024), QB, Indianapolis Colts

Result: L, 23-20 (OT) to Chiefs

Leonard, the only former Notre Dame quarterback on an active NFL roster, was active as the Colts’ backup quarterback but did not play.

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

Result: W, 24-10 over Saints

Liufau played 8 defensive snaps but was held off the stat sheet.

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

Result: L, 24-10 to Browns

Mayer caught his lone target for 14 yards.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Chicago Bears

Result: L, 24-10 to Falcons

McCloud allowed 3 receptions on 5 targets for 24 yards and a touchdown, playing 57 snaps off the bench for a Bears secondary ravaged by injuries.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: L, 34-7 to Rams

Morrison made a career-high 4 tackles and defended a pass. He has struggled a bit in coverage the past two games, though, as he deals with a banged-up hamstring.

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

Result: L, 23-20 (OT) to Chiefs

Nelson allowed 2 pressures and earned a 69.3 PFF pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: W, 23-19 over Bills

Patterson played 5 snaps on special teams.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: L, 31-28 to Bears

Skowronek caught his lone target for 21 yards.

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

Result: L, 23-6 to Packers

Smith made a tackle and did not allow a reception in coverage.

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

Result: L, 24-10 to Falcons

Smythe caught his lone target for 4 yards.

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

Result: W, 23-10 over Jets

Stanley allowed 1 pressure and earned an 86.8 PFF pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: W, 23-20 (OT) over Colts

Tillery played 9 defensive snaps.

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

Result: W, 23-20 (OT) over Colts

Tranquill made 3 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss.

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

Result: W, 20-9 over 49ers

Tremble was not targeted.

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

Result: L, 24-10 to Falcons

Watts picked off his third pass of the season and first since Sept. 28. He also made 6 tackles (5 solo).

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

Result: W, 34-7 over Buccaneers

Williams ran 12 times for 46 yards, and he also caught a pass for 2 yards.

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

Result: W, 34-27 (OT) over Giants

Wright caught 3 passes on 4 targets for 29 yards, including a 20-yard grab.

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve