2025 NFL Knights
Rutgers football has established a strong pipeline to the National Football League. Sixteen former Rutgers football players finished the 2025 season on an NFL roster, including nine on active rosters, five on injured reserve and two on practice squads. Ten former Rutgers football players logged snaps during the 2025 season, while three Scarlet Knights - RB Kyle Monangai (5), RB Isiah Pacheco (2) and WR Bo Melton (1) - combined for eight touchdowns this season. A Rutgers football player has produced an NFL touchdown in 30 consecutive seasons dating back to 1996.
After being selected in the seventh round of last year’s NFL Draft, Monangai finished his rookie season with 169 carries for 783 yards and five touchdowns. His 176 rushing yards against Cincinnati on Nov. 2 were the most for a rookie in a single game this season and the eighth-highest mark across the NFL.
This past 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.
2025 NFL Knights
| Player | Team |
| DB Tre Avery | Cleveland |
| DB Christian Braswell | Jacksonville |
| FB Michael Burton | Denver |
| LS Andrew DePaola | Minnesota |
| DL Kyonte Hamilton | Houston |
| DL Isaiah Iton | New England |
| DB Christian Izien | Tampa Bay |
| WR JaQuae Jackson | Los Angeles Chargers |
| DL Sebastian Joseph-Day | Tennessee |
| DB Robert Longerbeam | Baltimore |
| PK Jude McAtamney | New York Giants |
| DB Bo Melton | Green Bay |
| DB Max Melton | Arizona |
| RB Kyle Monangai | Chicago |
| RB Isiah Pacheco | Kansas City |
| OL Hollin Pierce | Philadelphia |
| DB Eric Rogers | Los Angeles Chargers |
Tre Avery
DB | Cleveland
2025: Avery appeared in 10 games for Cleveland, finishing with 13 tackles. Avery logged 109 snaps on special teams and 42 on defense.
Christian Braswell
DB | Jacksonville
2025: Braswell played in all 17 games for Jacksonville, finishing with 14 tackles, three passes defended and two tackles-for-loss. A key reserve for the Jaguars, Braswell logged 168 snaps on special teams and 159 on defense, helping Jacksonville to the team’s first division title since 2022. Braswell played as a reserve in the Jaguars' loss to Buffalo during Wild Card weekend.
Andrew DePaola
LS | Minnesota
2025: DePaola appeared in all 17 games for Minnesota as the team’s primary long snapper. A three-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, DePaola has played in 153 career games in 11 NFL seasons.
Christian Izien
DB | Tampa Bay
2025: Izien finished his third season with 25 tackles, a forced fumble and tackle-for-loss in 14 games for Tampa Bay. In three seasons with the Buccaneers, Izien has tallied 111 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, five passes defended, three interceptions and three forced fumbles in 45 career games.
Sebastian Joseph-Day
DL | Tennessee
2025: Joseph-Day wrapped up his second season with Tennessee appearing in 17 games with 10 starts, tallying 41 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery. In eight NFL seasons, Joseph-Day has produced 314 career tackles, 30 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 sacks, appearing in three Super Bowls and winning Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams.
Jude McAtamney
PK | New York Giants
2025: McAtamney appeared in four games for the New York Giants in his second pro season, finishing with two field goals and seven extra points. McAtamney connected on field goals from 31 and 22 yards out to help New York to a 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers earlier in the season. McAtamney became the first player in school history to attempt and make a field goal in an NFL game when he drilled a 31-yard attempt against Washington last fall.
Bo Melton
WR | Green Bay
2025: Melton proved to be one of the most versatile athletes in the NFL, making Green Bay’s opening-day active roster as a defensive back before returning to wide receiver. Melton finished his third professional season with four catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Melton added four tackles on special teams and produced 19 kickoff returns for 467 yards.
Max Melton
DB | Arizona
2025: Melton finished his second NFL season with 31 tackles, five passes defended and a tackle-for-loss across 10 games and eight starts at corner. A second-round draft pick last season, Melton has produced 82 tackles in his first two professional seasons with the Cardinals.
Kyle Monangai
RB | Chicago
2025: Monangai enjoyed a breakout rookie season for Chicago, finishing with 169 carries for 783 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games. Monangai produced two 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 176 yards in a 47-42 win over Cincinnati. Monangai added 18 receptions for 164 yards and also contributed a two-point conversion rush in the Bears’ regular-season finale. In two playoff games, Monangai contributed 21 carries for 63 yards along with five catches for 58 yards.
Isiah Pacheco
RB | Kansas City
2025: Pacheco battled injury to finish his fourth NFL season with 118 carries for 462 yards and a touchdown. Pacheco also added 19 receptions for 101 yards and a score. In four seasons with Kansas City, Pacheco has tallied 576 carries for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns, helping the Chiefs to two Super Bowl victories while playing in three.
2025 NFL Knights (Injured Reserve)
Michael Burton
FB |Denver
2025: 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.
Kyonte Hamilton
DL | Houston
2025: 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.
Isaiah Iton
DL | New England
2025: Iton signed with New England last summer and was placed on the Patriots’ injured reserve after suffering an injury during the preseason. Iton previously played with Tennessee in 2024.
Robert Longerbeam
DB | Baltimore
2025: 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
DB | Los Angeles Chargers
2025: 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.
2025 NFL Knights (Practice Squad)
JaQuae Jackson
WR | Los Angeles Chargers
2025: Jackson spent his second NFL season on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad after he hauled in two catches for 26 yards in the preseason.
Hollin Pierce
OL | Philadelphia
2025: Pierce spent 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.
