#NFLKnights: 2025 Playoff Preview

Photo by: Los Angeles Chargers

Jan 08 | Football

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football is well represented in the 2025 NFL playoffs, with six Scarlet Knights advancing to the postseason. Rutgers looks to have a former player compete in and win a Super Bowl for the fourth consecutive season.

FB Michael Burton (Denver)
LS Andrew DePaola (Minnesota)
RB Gus Edwards (Los Angeles Chargers)
DB Christian Izien (Tampa Bay)
WR Bo Melton (Green Bay)
RB Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City)

NFL Knights Wild Card Weekend Playoff Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Saturday, January 11

(5) Los Angeles Chargers (Gus Edwards) at (4) Houston – 4:30 p.m. on CBS

Sunday, January 12

(7) Denver (Michael Burton) at (2) Buffalo – 1 p.m. on CBS
(7) Green Bay (Bo Melton) at (2) Philadelphia – 4:30 p.m. on FOX
(6) Washington at (3) Tampa Bay (Christian Izien) – 8 p.m. on NBC

Monday, January 13

(5) Minnesota (Andrew DePaola) at (4) Los Angeles Rams – 8 p.m. on ESPN/ABC

Bye

AFC – (1) Kansas City (Isiah Pacheco)

Sebastian Joseph-Day takes down Caleb Williams for the sack #TitanUp

??: #TENvsCHI on FOX
??: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/jO9gkSJcBL
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

2024 Regular Season Recap

Fifteen former Rutgers football players finished the 2024 season on NFL rosters.
Twelve former Rutgers football players logged snaps during the 2024 season.
Andrew DePaola (Minnesota) was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.
Three Scarlet Knights combined for seven touchdowns this season.
- Gus Edwards (4)
- Michael Burton (2)
- Isiah Pacheco (1)
A Rutgers football player has produced an NFL touchdown in 29 consecutive seasons dating back to 1996.
Max Melton played in all 17 games as a rookie after he was selected in the second round by Arizona in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Melton and PK Jude McAtamney (New York Giants) made their NFL debuts this past season, while rookies Shawn Bowman (Jacksonville) and Isaiah Iton (Tennessee) finished their first seasons on respective practice squads. A fifth rookie, JaQuae Jackson (New England) spent 2024 on injured reserve.
McAtamney became the first former Rutgers football player to kick a field goal in an NFL game when he drilled a 31-yard attempt on Nov. 3 against Washington. McAtamney also converted an extra point and booted four touchbacks in his career debut.

Bo to Burton for another @Broncos TD!#DENvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LGbaUrBkU2
— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024

DB Tre Avery (San Francisco)

Avery appeared in nine games for Tennessee in his third NFL season before he was waived on Dec. 28. He was picked up by San Francisco on Dec. 30 and finished the season on its active roster. He closed his season with three tackles.

TE Shawn Bowman (Jacksonville)

Bowman earned a spot on Jacksonville’s practice squad during his first professional season.

DB Christian Braswell (Jacksonville)

Braswell appeared in three games for Jacksonville before he finished his second professional season on the practice squad.

FB Michael Burton (Denver)

Now in his 10th NFL season, Burton appeared in all 17 games for Denver as its primary fullback. Burton added a rushing and receiving touchdown out of the backfield and also contributed six tackles on special teams.

Your #Vikings 2025 Pro Bowl Games selections

Sam Darnold@JJettas2 @andrewdepaola @AndrewVanGinkel @jongreenard7 @byronmurphy https://t.co/ya3ZL3OzXq pic.twitter.com/P1CeEsLrZK
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 2, 2025

LS Andrew DePaola (Minnesota)

Despite missing time due to injury, DePaola appeared in 13 games for Minnesota, earning his third consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl.

DL Michael Dwumfour (Cleveland)

After spending the preseason with Chicago and signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL in November, Dwumfour was signed by Cleveland on Dec. 6. Dwumfour appeared in the Browns’ season finale at Baltimore.

RB Gus Edwards (Los Angeles Chargers)

After signing a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, Edwards finished the 2024 regular season with 101 carries for 365 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games. In six seasons, Edwards has tallied 800 carries for 3,760 yards and 30 touchdowns.

GUS BUS INTO OVERDRIVE!#DENvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/DrO7L2NFY6
— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024

DL Isaiah Iton (Tennessee)

Iton earned a spot on Tennessee’s practice squad during his first professional season.

DB Christian Izien (Tampa Bay)

Izien wrapped up his second professional season with 75 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, three passes defended, a forced fumble and an interception in 14 games, including 10 starts. Izien was placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury on Dec. 26, ending his season.

WR JaQuae Jackson (New England)

After his impressive preseason – which included a touchdown reception – was cut short due to injury, Jackson was placed on injured reserve for New England.

.@buccaneers INT!

??: #TBvsDET on FOX
??: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Yh7obhD2Fd
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024

DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (Tennessee)

A Super Bowl champion and seven-year NFL veteran, Joseph-Day finished his first season with Tennessee with 44 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks and a pass deflection in 17 games played.

PK Jude McAtamney (New York Giants)

McAtamney earned a spot on the New York Giants’ practice squad and appeared in one regular-season game during his first professional season.

WR Bo Melton (Green Bay)

Melton appeared in all 17 games for Green Bay this season, finishing with eight catches for 91 yards and eight rushes for 54 yards and four first downs. A standout on special teams, Melton also contributed three tackles and recovered two fumbles.

HISTORY: Derry's Jude McAtamney kicks the first NFL points by an Irishman in 39 years ?? pic.twitter.com/b57ZMNUgyV
— Mark Hogan (@HoganNFL) November 3, 2024

DB Max Melton (Arizona)

Rutgers’ highest draft pick since 2010, Melton finished his rookie season with 51 tackles, five passes defended, two tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble in 17 games. Melton had a strong finish to his first professional season, allowing just 10 catches on 22 targets for 96 yards in his final nine games.

RB Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City)

Pacheco battled injuries in 2024, finishing with 83 carries for 310 yards and a touchdown across seven games. Pacheco is slated to be available for Kansas City when the divisional round begins in two weeks.