Eli Raridon (9), pictured here in 2024 while at Notre Dame, scored a touchdown Wednesday night in his first ever catch for the New England Patriots. (Photo: Chad Ryan)
Two games into the NFL season, Notre Dame’s presence is already being felt.
Five former Irish players have seen action, three have scored or produced a turnover, and it’s a pretty good preview of what Notre Dame fans can expect throughout the NFL season.
It started Wednesday night when Seattle defeated New England 13-10.
Julian Love delivered one of the biggest plays of the game. The former Notre Dame safety finished with six tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and a pass defended. His interception came in the fourth quarter with the game tied at 10 and helped set up Seattle’s go-ahead field goal.
Jadarian Price also made an impressive NFL debut.
Seattle selected Price with the final pick of the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the former Irish running back carried 10 times for 52 yards while adding two catches for six yards. His first NFL carry went for 13 yards.
Notre Dame fans watched Price share the backfield with Jeremiyah Love last season. Now both are first-round NFL Draft picks.
Price once again shared carries Wednesday night, something he became accustomed to at Notre Dame. But 52 yards on 10 carries is a pretty good way to begin making the case for more.
Rylie Mills also saw action for Seattle and finished with two tackles. Mills was a key part of the Notre Dame defense before Seattle selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
On the other side, Eli Raridon found a pretty good way to record his first NFL catch.
It went for a touchdown.
Raridon caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye in the second quarter to give New England a 7-0 lead.
Here’s the fun part: Raridon did not catch a touchdown during his final season at Notre Dame despite finishing with 482 receiving yards.
First NFL reception? Touchdown.
Not a bad way to start an NFL career.
Then Thursday night, another familiar name got into the end zone.
Former Irish running back Kyren Williams scored the Los Angeles Rams’ only touchdown in their 27-7 loss to San Francisco, powering in from five yards out. Williams finished with 41 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and added three receptions for 24 yards.
And we’re only two games into the season.
Notre Dame entered 2026 with 40 former players on active NFL rosters, the sixth-highest total in college football. That means when the rest of the league gets underway this weekend, Irish fans won’t have to look very hard to find someone they recognize.
Love has already made a game-changing interception. Price averaged better than five yards per carry in his NFL debut. Mills contributed on defense. Raridon scored on his first NFL reception. Williams found the end zone.
Five former Irish players down.
Thirty-five more to watch.
Notre Dame fans are going to have plenty to keep an eye on in the NFL this fall.