Notre Dame Football: Top 10 Former Irish in the NFL

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 17: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after catching the ball for a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 17, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Kyle Rudolph

Rudolph was a high profile recruit out of Cincinnati, Ohio and lived up to his lofty 5-star ranking during his tenure at Notre Dame. The stats don’t necessarily tell the whole story, especially during his junior season when he went down after 6 games with a torn hamstring. The injury dropped him into the second round, and that’s when the Vikings scooped him up.

Rudolph has proven to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL over his seven-year career.

He has started every game over the last three seasons and has caught at least five touchdowns four times. Rudolph has made two pro bowls (2012 and 2017), catching a combined 17 touchdowns in those seasons.

He will never wow you with his overall athleticism like a Tyler Eifert, but he gets open and catches everything thrown to him. At 6’6, 265, he is a mismatch against both linebackers and safeties, and should be able to play well into his 30s.

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