There will be Notre Dame alum on the field during Super Bowl LIX
There are plenty of Notre Dame Fighting Irish alum playing in the NFL, and at least will be playing in Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans this year.
Linebacker [autotag]Drue Tranquill[/autotag] and kicker [autotag]Spencer Shrader[/autotag] will be playing in the game for the Chiefs. Former Irish quarterback [autotag]Ian Book[/autotag] was briefly on the Eagles’ active roster, but he’s back on the practice squad. Book was a Chief briefly during the preseason.
Aug 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ian Book (19) looks downfield in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
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Notre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills is going to the league.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman [autotag]Rylie Mills[/autotag] is moving on.
Mills declared for the NFL Draft on Monday.
He was a key anchor for the Notre Dame defense, though he missed the final three games with a right knee injury.
The five-year player had 37 total tackles and 7.5 sacks in 2024.
Mills posted a long thank-you note to Notre Dame fans on his Twitter account.
Notre Dame’s defense has now lost at least three stars to the NFL draft, with [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] also declaring. The departures aren’t necessarily unexpected given how crucial the Fighting Irish’s defense was to Notre Dame’s run to the national championship game, but they’re a blow nonetheless.
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 09: Rylie Mills #99 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a sack against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on November 09, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Notre Dame kept Michigan at bay when the Wolverines angled for Bowden’s services, but the Trojans swooped in with a reported multiyear offer of more than $1 million a year.
It’s apparently a big pay bump. Bowden was said to be earning about $300,000 per year at Notre Dame.
The Irish promoted Bowden, the son of longtime MLB executive Jim Bowden, from recruiting director to assistant athletic director for player personnel before this season.
He initially came to Notre Dame from Cincinnati along with current Irish coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] in January 2021 to be the recruiting coordinator for the defense.
If it seems like Notre Dame is losing a lot of key pieces of its team as defensive coordinator [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag] and key players like Pat Coogan depart, it’s also important to remember the Irish raked in a lot of money from the deep playoff run and have intriguing transfers coming in.
Still, this one might end up hurting significantly.
Jan. 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) receives the snap during the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in. the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. James Lang-Imagn Images
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Notre Dame lost another offensive lineman to the transfer portal on Thursday.
At least this time, the player in question was a special-teamer and not a starter.
[autotag]Ty Chan[/autotag] is following [autotag]Pat Coogan[/autotag] and [autotag]Rocco Spindler[/autotag], both starters, into the transfer portal. Fighting Irish players have a five-day window to enter the portal following the national championship game loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Chan’s departure will hurt less than Coogan’s or Spindler’s, but he’s still a depth piece and the fourth offensive lineman to leave. [autotag]Sam Pendleton[/autotag] is leaving, too, to seek more playing time.
The departures of Coogan and Spindler are baffling though details that would explain why could emerge later. For Chan, the choice is likely about getting more playing time.
Jan. 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman looks on against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half the national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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The Fighting Irish are hanging in there versus the Ohio State Buckeyes thanks to a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] to wide receiver [autotag]Jaden Greathouse[/autotag].
The pass capped off a 6-play, 80-yard touchdown that took 2:10.
It’s Greathouse’s second touchdown tonight.
Wide receiver [autotag]Jordan Faison[/autotag] then passed the ball to fellow receiver [autotag]Beaux Collins[/autotag] on a trick play for the two-point conversion to bring the Irish within 8.
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jaden Greathouse (1) catches a pass against Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Cody Simon (0) in the second half in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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Ohio State wide receiver [autotag]Emeka Egbuka[/autotag] appeared to break a big play against the Irish, but the ball was punched loose by [autotag]Drayk Bowen[/autotag] and recovered by [autotag]Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa[/autotag].
There was a replay review but the play stood. Notre Dame has some life late.
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – DECEMBER 20: Drayk Bowen #34 and Jack Kiser #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate after a defensive play during the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers in the Playoff First Round game at Notre Dame Stadium on December 20, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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Notre Dame gets a much-needed TD from Jaden Greathouse.
Notre Dame has been struggling to score against Ohio State all night in the national championship game, but wide receiver [autotag]Jaden Greathouse[/autotag] may have just given the Irish life.
Greathouse took what looked like a routine pass and broke some tackles to scamper 34 yards to the end zone to cap off a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took 4:49. Quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard [/autotag]hit a shovel pass to running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] for the two-point conversion.
Notre Dame is still down a bunch, 31-15, and searching for a stop or turnover to get a comeback truly started.
Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jaden Greathouse (1) celebrates a touch down the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Notre Dame gets on the board first thanks to Riley Leonard.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have struck first in the national championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
It’s all thanks to Irish quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag], who capped off a 18-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Leonard had 9 carries for 34 yards on the drive, which chewed 9:45 off of the clock.
Backup running back [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag] also had a nice run with a stiff arm on the drive.
Notre Dame will likely have to control the clock to beat the Buckeyes, and the opening drive of the game was a good start.
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) runs with the ball against Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) during the first half the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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That means that [autotag]Beaux Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] should be good to go. Offensive lineman [autotag]Rocco Spindler[/autotag], too.
Of course, some players like [autotag]Rylie Mills[/autotag] and [autotag]Anthonie Knapp[/autotag] are done for the season. Notre Dame has been hit by the injury bug, but yet the Irish have still advanced this far.
Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jaden Greathouse (1) celebrates a touch down the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman won’t be leaving for this NFL job
Notre Dame Fighting Irish coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] is in demand, thanks to taking the Irish to the national championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
In fact, the Chicago Bears, who have been looking for a new coach, were rumored to have interest in interviewing Freeman for the role even though Notre Dame gave Freeman a contract extension.
That’s what happens when you have success. Given Notre Dame’s proximity and the fact there are a great many Bears fans who also cheer for the Irish and vice-versa, the connection seemed to be a no-brainer.
But the Bears hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new coach on Monday.
This doesn’t mean Freeman will not be targeted — or will not pursue — other NFL jobs. But it does mean he’s not leaving to coach the Bears next season.
Jan. 2, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates on the sidelines in the final minute against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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