Notre Dame Professional Athletes

The Main Event: Love vs. Price

The NFL's most compelling Week 2 subplot has a distinctly Notre Dame flavor. When the Arizona Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, former Fighting Irish backfield teammates Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will line up on opposite sidelines as NFC West division rivals for the first time.

The story goes deeper than nostalgia. Love confirmed this week that Arizona's coaching staff has been mining him for intelligence on his former teammate, asking the Cardinals rookie running back to identify Price's weaknesses ahead of the matchup. Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis acknowledged leaning on that resource, and Love has apparently been happy to oblige — three years of shared reps in South Bend will do that.

Love enters Week 2 with momentum. In Arizona's 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers — arguably the biggest upset of the opening weekend — the No. 3 overall pick gutted through an ankle issue that had clouded his availability all preseason, finishing with 41 rushing yards, a touchdown, and two catches for nine yards in limited snaps. Head coach Mike LaFleur has since made bold public statements about Love's expanding role, and Love himself issued a confident health update heading into Sunday, signaling the ankle is no longer a concern.

Price, meanwhile, had a measured debut for Seattle in Week 1 against the Patriots. His All-22 review drew positive notices for a limited role, and Seattle offensive coordinator Brian Fleury sent a clear message to reporters this week: Price needs — and deserves — a bigger workload. A Sports Illustrated analysis backed that view, framing Cardinals-Seahawks as a potential breakout opportunity for the rookie back, particularly with Seattle likely starting backup QB Drew Lock under center.

Also factoring into the Cardinals-Seahawks equation: Notre Dame safety Julian Love — no relation to Jeremiyah — is on Seattle's defense and publicly pushed back this week on how his unit's coverage metrics are being evaluated heading into the game.

Around the League

Beyond the Arizona-Seattle storyline, Notre Dame alumni had a productive Week 1 across the league.

Cole Kmet delivered for Chicago in a lopsided 59-37 win over Carolina, catching two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Michael Mayer was arguably the steadiest offensive contributor of any Irish alum in Week 1, hauling in six receptions for 32 yards in Las Vegas's 27-13 win over Miami. Malachi Fields chipped in two catches for 25 yards as the Giants fell to Dallas 28-20.

In Baltimore, Kyle Hamilton drew national attention beyond the box score — analyst Domonique Foxworth broke down the safety's gravitational effect on opposing offenses under first-year head coach Jesse Minter. Ronnie Stanley, however, is a name to watch: the veteran left tackle is listed as questionable for the Ravens' Week 2 game against the Saints with a mounting injury concern.

Harrison Smith remains a steady presence in Minnesota, and the veteran safety used his platform this week to issue a pointed warning about Bears pass rusher Dallas Turner ahead of the Vikings-Chicago matchup.

In Green Bay, Aaron Banks suffered an injury that prompted the Packers to sign an external guard, putting the Notre Dame lineman's Week 2 availability in question as the team navigates offensive line depth issues heading into their Jets game.

Fighting Irish Flood the NFL's First Week

Notre Dame didn't just have alumni on rosters to open the 2026 NFL season — it had alumni making the actual news. From a history-making rookie touchdown to a $45 million contract extension to a three-player convergence in Seattle, the Fighting Irish left fingerprints all over Week 1.

Raridon Scores the First TD of the Entire NFL Season

Nobody had Eli Raridon penciled in as the man to open the NFL's 2026 scoring ledger. The Patriots rookie tight end, making his professional debut in a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks, hauled in a 2-yard touchdown reception to become the first player to score in the 2026 NFL season. The moment was improbable — Raridon was far from the featured weapon in New England's offense — but he delivered it on the sport's biggest opening stage. The Patriots ultimately fell 13–10, but Raridon's place in the record books is permanent.

Michael Mayer Lands $45 Million Extension in Las Vegas

One day before the Raiders' Week 1 kickoff, Las Vegas locked up tight end Michael Mayer on a three-year, $45 million extension with $30 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL. The timing was notable: Mayer was entering the final year of his rookie deal, and the extension came amid an injury to star tight end Brock Bowers, elevating Mayer's role in the Raiders' offense considerably. The $15 million average annual value is a significant bet on a player whose NFL production has yet to mirror the record-setting numbers he put up at Notre Dame — but Las Vegas clearly sees upside, and the guarantee signals real organizational conviction.

Three Irish in One Seattle Uniform

The Patriots-Seahawks opener doubled as an unofficial Notre Dame alumni showcase in the Pacific Northwest. Safety Julian Love intercepted a pass to help Seattle's defense preserve the 13–10 win. Rookie running back Jadarian Price made a solid NFL debut with 10 carries for 52 rushing yards — flashing big-play ability with two carries of 10-plus yards — and earned a glowing one-word verdict from head coach Mike Macdonald afterward. And defensive tackle Rylie Mills was on the field as well, giving the Seahawks three Notre Dame products active in the same Week 1 game.

That's a remarkable concentration of Fighting Irish talent on a single sideline, and with Price still finding his footing as a rookie and Love anchoring the secondary, the Seahawks-as-Notre-Dame-pipeline storyline has legs well beyond opening week.

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The broader Irish footprint across the league is equally formidable — veterans like Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, Quenton Nelson in Indianapolis, and Harrison Smith back for a 15th season in Minnesota all suit up in 2026 — but it was the opening week's trio of storylines that announced Notre Dame's presence loudest. Raridon made history, Mayer made money, and the Seahawks made it look like a South Bend reunion.

Notre Dame alumni were everywhere in NFL headlines this week — from a blockbuster contract crossroads in Indianapolis to roster shuffles in San Francisco, Cleveland, and Minnesota.

The Big Money Question: Quenton Nelson

The most consequential story out of Irish country has no resolution yet, and that's exactly what makes it compelling. The Indianapolis Colts are staring down a contract decision for All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson that exceeds $81 million — a figure that would make him among the highest-paid interior linemen in the league. The wrinkle: guards historically command less market value than tackles, complicating the calculus for a franchise that knows Nelson is one of the best offensive linemen in football regardless of position. The Colts haven't announced a decision. The clock, however, is ticking.

Riley Leonard Loses the QB2 Battle

Also in Indianapolis, former Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard came up short in the Colts' backup quarterback competition. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Anthony Richardson — despite having sought a trade earlier this offseason — has secured the QB2 role behind starter Daniel Jones, pushing Leonard down the depth chart. Leonard entered the competition as a second-year player with something to prove; Richardson's upside ultimately won out. Leonard's roster status moving forward remains a storyline worth tracking.

Khalid Kareem Catches a Lifeline in San Francisco

After two seasons on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad, Notre Dame defensive end Khalid Kareem got his shot. The 49ers signed the 28-year-old off Atlanta's practice squad ahead of their season-opening game in Melbourne, Australia — bringing him onto the active roster as a replacement for injured Sam Okuayinonu. A fifth-round pick and six-year NFL veteran, Kareem is heading to the other side of the world for a Week 1 audition. Not a bad week's work.

Julian Okwara Released by Cleveland

The news was less encouraging for Julian Okwara. The Browns claimed DB Toriano Pride off waivers and released Okwara as the corresponding move, ending his time in Cleveland before it could fully take root. The Notre Dame pass rusher now hits the open market looking for his next opportunity.

Harrison Smith Limbo Continues in Minnesota

The saga of Harrison Smith's retirement decision remained unresolved heading into Week 1. The Vikings GM issued updates, analysts delivered verdicts, and The Athletic's Robert May made clear Minnesota needs Smith back — but the veteran safety has taken all of training camp to deliberate, and the team has let him. Smith is unlikely to play in the Week 1 opener against Green Bay on Sept. 13. Whether he suits up at all in 2026 is still an open question, and one the Vikings secondary is desperate to see answered.

Elsewhere Around the League

Spencer Shrader won the Colts' kicking competition, locking down the placekicker role in Indianapolis — another Irish alum securing a roster spot as final cuts settled. Kevin Austin Jr. bounced back from being waived, landing on the New Orleans Saints' practice squad after the team brought him back alongside receiver Treyton Welch. And Blake Grupe, cut by the Colts after losing the kicking battle to Shrader, was claimed by the New York Jets — who are nonetheless still eyeing additional kicker options in free agency.

Marist Liufau's Preseason Finale Turns Costly

Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau's summer took a brutal turn in the Cowboys' preseason finale against the Saints on Friday night. The outside linebacker and special teams contributor exited the game early, returned to the sideline with his arm in a cast and sling, and is now headed for surgery after being diagnosed with a broken forearm. The injury threatens both his spot on Dallas's 53-man roster and his availability for the start of the regular season.

Liufau's value to the Cowboys has been built primarily on special teams, making him exactly the type of versatile depth piece that's difficult to retain through roster cuts when injured. Surgery and a recovery timeline that bleeds into September could force the Cowboys' hand before final cuts are due. Fellow Irish alum Zack Martin remains a fixture on Dallas's offensive line, and Brandon Aubrey continues to hold down the kicker role — but it's Liufau whose immediate NFL future is suddenly uncertain.

Other Irish Stories Worth Tracking

The Cowboys aren't the only team with Notre Dame subplot lines this week.

In Indianapolis, the battle between Irish alums Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader for the Colts' kicker job is still unresolved heading into final roster decisions. The competition is described as neck-and-neck — a remarkable situation given that Shrader held the job to start last season before Grupe took over mid-year following an injury. The loser almost certainly won't survive cuts, making this an Irish-on-Irish roster casualty waiting to happen.

Meanwhile, Riley Leonard is fighting to hold onto the Colts' QB2 role against Anthony Richardson. Leonard showed enough positive signs in his preseason performance against the Falcons to keep the competition alive, but nothing is locked up. For a former Irish starter, sticking as a backup on an NFL roster would still represent a significant achievement — provided he can hold off Richardson.

In Green Bay, guard Aaron Banks is navigating both injury and scrutiny. Packers coach Matt LaFleur offered updates on Banks among other injured players this week, though the bigger cloud hanging over the Notre Dame lineman is an analytical one: a recent piece framed his contract as a potential sunk-cost situation for Green Bay, raising questions about his long-term fit heading into the final year of his deal.

On the other side of the country, safety Julian Love is being spotlighted as one of the Seahawks' under-the-radar contributors heading into 2026 — a quiet vote of confidence for the Notre Dame defensive back as Seattle opens the year.

And in Minnesota, veteran safety Harrison Smith remains unsigned, though Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed he's still in contact with the Notre Dame legend. At this stage of his career, Smith's next move — or retirement — feels close to resolution one way or another.

The week's dominant Irish story, though, belongs to Liufau. A broken forearm is not a career-altering injury in most circumstances, but the timing — surgery required, roster cuts imminent — makes this one of the more consequential injury reports a Notre Dame alum will face all preseason.