PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Fifteen former Rutgers football standouts are on NFL rosters to begin the 2025 season. The list includes eight active players, four on injured reserve and three on practice squads. 

After he was selected by Chicago in this year’s NFL Draft, RB Kyle Monangai is set to make his NFL debut during Monday Night Football against Minnesota (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).

2024 Season Recap

Fifteen former Rutgers football standouts logged snaps in the league last fall, while six advanced to the playoffs. RB Isiah Pacheco competed in his third consecutive Super Bowl (Super Bowl LIX) with Kansas City. He was one of three Scarlet Knights to score touchdowns in 2024, alongside Michael Burton (Denver) and Gus Edwards (Los Angeles Chargers). Their combined seven touchdowns extended Rutgers' impressive streak to 29 consecutive seasons with a former player scoring in the NFL. 

Two Scarlet Knights - PK Jude McAtamney (New York Giants) and DB Max Melton (Arizona) - made their NFL debuts in 2024. Melton finished his rookie season with 51 tackles, five passes defended and a forced fumble in 17 games. McAtamney made his NFL debut against Washington, drilling a 31-yard field goal and an extra point to go along with five kickoffs.

This spring, three Scarlet Knights – Monangai, DB Robert Longerbeam (Baltimore) and DL Kyonte Hamilton (Houston) – were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. With six others signing free agent contracts – DB Desmond Igbinosun (Baltimore), DB Shaquan Loyal (Cincinnati), WR Dymere Miller (New York Jets), OL Hollin Pierce (Philadelphia), LB Tyreem Powell (New Orleans) and DB Eric Rogers (Los Angeles Chargers) – 113 Scarlet Knights have now joined the NFL after playing for head coach Greg Schiano.

Active (8)

DB Christian Braswell (Jacksonville)

2025 Season Outlook: Drafted by Jacksonville in 2023, Braswell enters his third season with the Jaguars in 2025. Braswell appeared in three games last season for Jacksonville, finishing with five tackles.

LS Andrew DePaola (Minnesota)

2025 Season Outlook: DePaola begins his sixth year as the primary long snapper with Minnesota and 11th in the NFL. Despite a shortened season due to injury, DePaola was named first-team All-Pro and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2024, becoming the first long snapper to earn three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.

DB Christian Izien (Tampa Bay)

2025 Season Outlook: Izien returns for his third season with Tampa Bay in 2025. The nickelback finished last season with 75 tackles, three passes defended, a pass deflection and interception in 14 games (10 starts) before missing the remainder of the campaign due to injury.

DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (Tennessee)

2025 Season Outlook:

 Joseph-Day enters his eighth NFL season and second with Tennessee in 2025. The Super Bowl champion appeared in all 17 games (12 starts) for the Titans in 2024, finishing with 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pass deflection. One of the longest-tenured Scarlet Knights in the NFL, Joseph-Day has produced 273 tackles, 24 tackles-for-loss and 13.5 sacks in 88 career appearances.

DB Bo Melton (Green Bay)

2025 Season Outlook: One of the top stories of training camp, Melton converted from wide receiver to cornerback for Green Bay and made the Packers’ 53-man roster. Melton finished the preseason with five tackles and a pass defended. This is now Melton’s third season with Green Bay after producing eight catches for 91 yards at wide receiver along with three tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams.

DB Max Melton (Arizona)

2025 Season Outlook: Melton is listed as a starter at cornerback entering his second season with Arizona. As a rookie last fall, Melton finished with 51 tackles, five passes defended, two tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble while not surrendering a touchdown in 17 games (three starts).

RB Kyle Monangai (Chicago)

2025 Season Outlook: Monangai was selected by Chicago with the 233rd overall pick in the seventh round of this year’s NFL Draft. Monangai produced six carries for 30 yards in preseason action for the Bears, locking up his spot on the team’s initial 53-man roster. One of the most decorated running backs in Rutgers football history, the All-American finished his collegiate career with 3,221 yards on 669 carries with 27 touchdowns.

RB Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City)

2025 Season Outlook: Pacheco enters his fourth NFL season with Kansas City as the Chiefs’ starting running back in 2025. A two-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl participant, Pacheco appeared in just seven regular-season games last fall due to injury, finishing with 83 carries for 310 yards and a touchdown. In three seasons in Kansas City, Pacheco has tallied 2,075 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

Injured Reserve (4)

FB Michael Burton (Denver)

2025 Season Outlook: Burton was placed on season-ending injured reserve by Denver after suffering a hamstring injury prior to the preseason. The 11-year veteran was set to be the Broncos’ primary fullback for the third consecutive year.

DL Kyonte Hamilton (Houston)

2025 Season Outlook: One of three Scarlet Knights to be selected in this year’s NFL Draft, Hamilton was placed on injured reserve after he suffered a leg injury during training camp. A seventh-round selection by Houston, Hamilton played in 51 games with 31 starts on the defensive line during his collegiate career, finishing with 110 tackles and six sacks.

DB Robert Longerbeam (Baltimore)

2025 Season Outlook: A sixth-round selection by Baltimore in this year’s NFL Draft, Longerbeam suffered a season-ending injury during training camp and was placed on injured reserve. Longerbeam played in 53 games with 31 starts at cornerback for Rutgers during his collegiate career, producing 154 tackles with 37 pass breakups and five interceptions.

DB Eric Rogers (Los Angeles Chargers)

2025 Season Outlook: An undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason, Rogers emerged as one of the best stories of the preseason after he produced two interceptions in one game, including one returned for a score. Rogers was named to Pro Football Focus’ 2025 Preseason All-Rookie Team after he recorded a 97.0 PFF overall grade – the highest for a defender during the preseason. Rogers suffered an injury in his second preseason appearance and was placed on injured reserve.

Practice Squad (3)

WR JaQuae Jackson (Los Angeles Chargers)

2025 Season Outlook: Jackson will begin his second NFL season on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad after he hauled in two catches for 26 yards in the preseason.

PK Jude McAtamney (New York Giants)

2025 Season Outlook: McAtamney returns to the New York Giants’ practice squad for the second year in a row after he drilled two field goals and 11 extra points in three preseason games, also finishing with 17 kickoffs and eight touchbacks. McAtamney made his NFL debut last season against the Washington on Nov. 3, 2024, kicking an extra point and a 31-yard field goal.

OL Hollin Pierce (Philadelphia)

2025 Season Outlook: Pierce will begin his first NFL season on Philadelphia’s practice squad. Rutgers’ first All-America selection along the offensive line since 2009, Pierce finished his collegiate career with 50 consecutive starts at offensive tackle.

The following Scarlet Knights also saw action in training camp this summer.

• DB Tre Avery (New England/Tampa Bay)
• TE Shawn Bowman (Jacksonville)
• DL Michael Dwumfour (San Francisco/Denver)
• DB Desmond Igbinosun (Baltimore)
• DL Isaiah Iton (New England)
• DB Shaquan Loyal (Cincinnati)
• WR Dymere Miller (New York Jets)
• LB Tyreem Powell (New Orleans)

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