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The Best Notre Dame Football Player Taken In Each Round of the NFL Draft

By Connor McJunkin

9 JAN 1994: TIM BROWN OF THE LOS ANGELES RAIDERS WITH HELMET ALOFT LEAVES THE FIELD AFTER THE RAIDERS DEFEATED THE DENVER BRONCOS 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT
9 JAN 1994: TIM BROWN OF THE LOS ANGELES RAIDERS WITH HELMET ALOFT LEAVES THE FIELD AFTER THE RAIDERS DEFEATED THE DENVER BRONCOS 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT /
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9 JAN 1994: TIM BROWN OF THE LOS ANGELES RAIDERS WITH HELMET ALOFT LEAVES THE FIELD AFTER THE RAIDERS DEFEATED THE DENVER BRONCOS 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT
9 JAN 1994: TIM BROWN OF THE LOS ANGELES RAIDERS WITH HELMET ALOFT LEAVES THE FIELD AFTER THE RAIDERS DEFEATED THE DENVER BRONCOS 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT /

Round 1: Mr. Do It All

An entirely separate article could be made listing the all-time great first round selections from Notre Dame, but at the end of the day it’s hard to argue that Tim Brown wasn’t one of the most successful Irish players ever in the NFL, let alone most successful first round pick.

After winning the Heisman in 1987, Brown was selected sixth overall in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders. He wasted little time introducing himself to the league, as he led the NFL in kickoff returns, return yards, and yards per return average as a rookie.

Brown would go on to tally nine consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 1993-2001. He was selected to the Pro Bowl nine times and was a First Team All-Pro twice while also being named to the 1990s All-Decade Team. By the time he retired in 2004, Brown was in the top five all-time for receiving and return yards, making him the only player to ever retire in the top five for both categories.

His final career statistics aren’t too bad, I guess:

  • Receptions: 1,094 (7th all-time)
  • Receiving Yards: 14,934 (7th all-time)
  • Yards Per Reception: 13.7
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 100 (t-9th all-time)
  • Punt/Kick Return Yards: 4,555
  • Return Touchdowns: 4

It’s worth mentioning that when Brown retired, he was actually in the top three all-time for receiving yards, catches, and receiving touchdowns, but has since been passed by other players. Brown was one of if not the best receiver in the NFL throughout his career and is a top-10 receiver in NFL history.

He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2015.

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