Rutgers football has established a strong pipeline to the National Football League, with 17 Scarlet Knights on rosters ahead of the 2023 season. Fourteen former Rutgers football standouts logged snaps in the league last fall, while 12 advanced to the playoffs. Michael Burton and Isiah Pacheco helped the Kansas City Chiefs to a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, with Burton and Pacheco becoming the 17th and 18th Scarlet Knights in program history to win a Super Bowl. Pacheco finished with a game-high 76 rushing yards and a touchdown, becoming the first Scarlet Knight to score in a Super Bowl since L.J. Smith hauled in a touchdown reception for the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. Burton played extensively on special teams and also appeared in the backfield with Pacheco in the fourth quarter, helping Pacheco spring free for a 10-yard run to pick up a first down and help the Chiefs continue their game-winning scoring drive.
Pacheco finished his rookie campaign with a team-high 830 rushing yards on 170 carries and five touchdowns - one of three former Rutgers football standouts to score touchdowns last season along with Gus Edwards and Duron Harmon. Harmon's touchdown came on a 73-yard interception return, as Harmon was one of four Scarlet Knights to record interceptions along with Devin McCourty (4), Sebastian Joseph-Day (1) and Logan Ryan (1). Long snapper Andrew DePaola was named to the 2023 Pro Bowl and signed a three-year, $4,025,000 contract with Minnesota earlier this year to become the highest-paid long snapper in the NFL. Three rookies – Pacheco, Tre Avery (Tennessee), and Olakunle Fatukasi (Tampa Bay/Denver) – logged regular-season snaps in their first seasons.
Rutgers once again had a selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, as DB Christian Braswell was picked No. 202 overall in the sixth round by Jacksonville. WR Aron Cruickshank (Chicago), OL J.D. DiRenzo (Carolina) DB Christian Izien (Tampa Bay), DL Ifeanyi Maijeh (Seattle), WR Sean Ryan (Baltimore), and DB Avery Young (San Francisco) all signed as undrafted free agents, while WR Shameen Jones (New York Jets), P Adam Korsak (Kansas City/Pittsburgh) and DB Keenan Reid (New York Jets) earned rookie minicamp invites.
After finishing his 13th NFL season last fall, Devin McCourty announced his retirement on March 11, 2023. One of the most productive defensive backs in the league during his career with New England, McCourty finished as the NFL's active leader in interceptions with 35, playing in 205 regular-season games and helping the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships.
Current NFL Knights (17)
Ryan Anderson | P | Chicago Bears
Years at Rutgers: 2017
Tre Avery | DB | Tennessee Titans
Years at Rutgers: 2018-21
Michael Burton | FB | Denver Broncos
Years at Rutgers: 2010-14
Andrew DePaola | LS | Minnesota Vikings
Years at Rutgers: 2008-11
Michael Dwumfour | DL | Cleveland Browns
Years at Rutgers: 2020
Gus Edwards | RB | Baltimore Ravens
Years at Rutgers: 2017
Olakunle Fatukasi | LB | New England Patriots
Years at Rutgers: 2017-21
Duron Harmon | DB | Las Vegas Raiders
Years at Rutgers: 2009-12
Clark Harris | LS | Cincinnati Bengals
Years at Rutgers: 2002-06
Sebastian Joseph-Day | DL | Los Angeles Chargers
Years at Rutgers: 2013-17
Tyler Kroft | TE | Miami Dolphins
Years at Rutgers: 2011-14
Tyreek Maddox-Williams | LB | Los Angeles Chargers
Years at Rutgers: 2016-21
Bo Melton | WR | Green Bay Packers
Years at Rutgers: 2017-21
Isiah Pacheco | RB | Kansas City Chiefs
Years at Rutgers: 2018-21
Willington Previlon | DL | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years at Rutgers: 2015-19
Logan Ryan | DB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years at Rutgers: 2009-12
Kemoko Turay | DL/LB | San Francisco 49ers
Years at Rutgers: 2014-17
