Former Notre Dame football star named among NFL's best defenders

While we wait for the 2024 Notre Dame football season to start, we’re also waiting for the 2024 NFL season to begin. In preparation for the season, the NFL has released lists of the best players in the league.

One of the very best players manning NFL secondaries just so happens to represent the Fighting Irish. Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was named to the list and checks in at No. 43 among all players.

Former Notre Dame football star in rarified NFL air

It’s hardly surprising that the NFL believes he’s among the best in the league. Hamilton made an immediate impact with Notre Dame football, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2019. A season later, Hamilton earned first team All-ACC honors as the Irish advanced to the College Football Playoff.

If you’re wondering how that works, the Golden Domers joined the ACC for just the 2020 season due to the rather extraordinary COVID pandemic. Hamilton wrose to the occasion adn showed that if the Irish were part of a conference, he’d be one of the best around.

The Georgia native finished his Notre Dame career with 138 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 8 interceptions. Part of those numbers showed he would make an instant impact as he returned his first career interception for a touchdown, which came in a 2019 win over New Mexico.

After leaving South Bend, Hamilton was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with their first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The safety has played just two seasons in the NFL, but that's all it took for him to emerge as one of the top defenders in the games. 

He impressed people on a weekly basis in 2023. In 2024 he’ll once again represent both Notre Dame football and the Balitmore Ravens and it’s a safe bet he’s going to have a hell of a season.