For the third time this season, an NFL game featured two former Notre Dame teammates facing off in their rookie season. This time, the matchup was New York Giants wide receiver Malachi Fields and Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love. Not only did Fields' team win the matchup, but the former Irish wideout may have sparked the G-Men's victory.
Fields hasn't been the focus of an early-season NFL storyline the way that Love has been with the Cards. He hasn't put up any huge numbers just yet. But his first NFL touchdown just happened to also be the first time New York found the end zone on Sunday afternoon. It also came before they took the first lead of the day and mostly controlled the rest of the game.
With Love and the Cardinals up 14-6, the Giants drove just inside Arizona's 20-yard line when quarterback Jameis Winston rolled out to the right, and Fields masterfully looked like he was going to block until he released and ran upfield, grabbing the Winston throw and waltzing into the end zone.
While that catch was a modest 12-yard touchdown (even if it was his first of his Giants career and therefore huge for the individual), it was his second catch, a 40-yard reception and run that showed that Fields has made himself an integral part of New York's attack, even if he isn't posting eye-popping numbers just yet.
Jameis finds Malachi in the end zone ‼️
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 4, 2026
📺: CBS/Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/ZqyIfjCSeU
Malachi Fields breakout gives Giants reason to expand former Notre Dame football star’s role
Fields has caught exactly two passes in each of the Giants' games this season, but the 52 yards are a career-high in a game, along with his first touchdown. This season, he has 8 catches for 126 yards and a score. As the season goes on for the surprisingly 3-1 New York squad, Fields will likely get even more action and more catches, especially as Winston seems to be settling into his role as the starting quarterback.
As for Fields' teammate, Love had a very good game as well, but the Cardinals still trust him to carry the ball in the 20s, yet they oddly take him out of the game once Arizona gets down to crunch time. Still, he made the most of his opportunities, rushing for 63 yards on 14 carries in his team's 36-24 loss.
Fields and Love only spent one season as teammates in South Bend. The wide receiver transferred to Notre Dame ahead of the 2025 season, hoping to help the Irish get back to the National Title Game.
In his lone season in South Bend, he started all 12 games for the Irish, averaging 17.5 yards per reception and finishing second on the team with 630 receiving yards and 5 touchdown receptions.
Despite a good but not great regular season, Malachi Fields impressed onlookers by participating in postseason events like the Senior Bowl and playing well enough to start shooting up teams' draft boards. The New York Giants selected him in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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