Kyle Hamilton changes the game for the Ravens at free safety

On By Littum

Around Week 10, the Baltimore Ravens moved the former Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton from a versatile box/slot role to a full-time free safety.

Not so coincidentally, that’s also around the time they became the best pass defense in NFL.

By all accounts in Baltimore, Hamilton’s impact cannot be overstated. And the 2022 first-round pick out of Notre Dame played arguably his best game of the season in Week 16 against the Steelers, a 34-17 Ravens win.

Hamilton made 8 tackles, three of which were defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the attack). He broke up a pass and he forced a fumble. In coverage, Hamilton allowed 2 receptions on 4 targets for just 7 yards. Hamilton was everywhere as the Ravens defense terrorized the Steelers all game.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hamilton earned an elite 90.0 defensive grade, which included an 82.2 mark in tackling and an 85.8 mark in coverage. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound safety is one of the NFL’s best defensive players, regardless of position, and he’s well on his way to his second-straight first-team All-Pro nod.

So did every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL this week.

Joe Alt (played at Notre Dame from 2021-23), OL, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 34-27 win over the Broncos

Alt allowed 2 quarterback pressures and earned a 75.7 PFF pass-blocking grade.

Brandon Aubrey (2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 26-24 win over the Buccaneers

Aubrey made each of his 4 field-goal attempts, with a long of 58 and another from 53. He set the single-season record for most field goals of 50-plus yards in a single season with 14.

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

Result: 34-0 loss to the Packers

Austin caught 1 pass on 4 targets for 17 yards.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), Olympic, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 29-17 loss to the Dolphins

Banks allowed no pressures, but issued a 58.9 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: 34-7 win over the Giants

Bertrand made 4 tackles.

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

Result: 34-17 loss to the Lions

Daly intercepted 6 times, 3 on punts and 3 on field goals. He also made a tackle.

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

Result: 36-33 win over the Eagles

Day made 3 tackles – all of which were defensive stops – and posted a quarterback hit and a pass breakup.

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), Olympic, Miami Dolphins

Result: 29-17 win over the 49ers

Eichenberg did not allow a pressure and earned a 72.7 PFF pass-blocking grade.

Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, Denver Broncos

Result: 34-27 loss to the Chargers

Estimé rushed 9 times for 48 yards and his first NFL touchdown.

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

Result: 27-19 loss to the Chiefs

Fisher allowed 2 quarterback hits and finished with a 54.9 PFF offensive grade.

Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints

Result: 34-0 loss to the Packers

Foskey played 11 defensive snaps but did not reach the stat sheet.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 34-0 loss to the Packers

Grupe did not attempt a field goal or an extra point.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), Olympian, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Result: 26-24 loss to the Cowboys

Hainsey played 4 snaps on special teams.

Thomas Harper (2023), DB, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 19-14 win over the Jaguars

Harper made 4 tackles and recovered a fumble. He allowed 1 reception for 4 yards in coverage.

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

Result: 34-27 win over the Broncos

Hart missed Week 16 with a concussion, but he was not placed on injured reserve.

Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans

Result: 27-19 loss to the Chiefs

Hinish made 1 tackle and picked up a quarterback pressure.

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

Result: 36-30 OT win over the Cardinals

Jansen snapped 10 times, 5 on punts and 5 on field goals.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders

Result: 36-33 win over the Eagles

Jean-Baptiste made 3 tackles and posted a QB pressure.

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

Result: 34-17 loss to the Lions

Kmet caught his first touchdown since Oct. 13, when the Bears were good, and they (again, not so coincidentally) used him more.

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

Result: 26-24 win over the Buccaneers

Liufau picked up 4 quarterback pressures, made 7 tackles, forced a fumble and did this. He’ll come into his own as a rookie out of Notre Dame and start for the Cowboys.

Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks

Result: 27-24 loss to the Vikings

Love made 2 tackles and defended a pass.

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

Result: 19-14 win over the Jaguars

Mayer did not catch his lone target.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 29-17 loss to the Dolphins

McCloud played 18 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 34-27 loss to the Chargers

McGlinchey allowed 5 pressures, including a sack. He finished with a 47.2 PFF offense grade.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), Olympique, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 34-27 win over the Broncos

Mustipher played 6 offensive snaps.

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

Result: 38-30 win over the Titans

Nelson allowed no pressures and earned an 85.5 PFF grade. He was especially productive in the running game.

Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Arizona Cardinals

Result: 36-30 OT loss to the Panthers

Okwara started but did not make the stat sheet.

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

Result: 27-19 loss to the Chiefs

Patterson allowed 2 touchdowns but earned a 71.1 PFF pass-blocking grade.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 34-17 loss to the Ravens

Skowronek caught 2 passes for 25 yards.

Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions

Result: 34-17 win over the Bears

Chris was called up from the practice squad and played 11 defensive snaps. He was later released but is expected to return to the practice quad after he clears waivers.

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

Result: 27-24 win over the Seahawks

Smith made 3 tackles and broke up 2 passes.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

Result: 29-17 win over the 49ers

Smythe caught 1 pass on 2 targets for 5 yards.

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

Result: 34-17 win over the Steelers

Stanley allowed 4 pressures, including a sack. He posted a 47.1 PFF offense grade.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 27-24 win over the Seahawks

Tillery made 3 tackles.

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

Result: 27-19 win over the Texans

Tranquill made 7 tackles and had a quarterback hit.

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

Result: 36-30 OT win over the Cardinals

Tremble caught 3 passes for 32 yards.

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

Result: 19-9 win over the Jets

Williams carried 23 times for 122 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and caught 1 pass for 7. He also scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season and 30th total touchdown (including 5 scoring receptions) over the last two years .

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

Result: 34-17 win over the Bears

Wright was not the target.

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

  • Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Seattle Seahawks
  • Sam Hartman (2023), QB, Washington Commanders
  • Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Arizona Cardinals
  • Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DE, Atlanta Falcons
  • Troy Pride Jr. (2016-19), CB, Dallas Cowboys
  • Regular St. Brown (2015-17), WR, New Orleans Saints

News of note: former Notre Dame safety Brandon Joseph was released by the Lions after he was arrested for “on suspicion of operating under the influence,” according to ESPN.