Sept. 26, 2003
The University of Notre Dame had 40 of its former football players (seven of them rookies) participating in the start of National Football League play in 2003, according to figures based on opening-day active rosters – and no other school in the country had more players involved to begin the ’03 campaign.
The Irish have produced either the first- or second-highest total in that category for nine straight years. The Irish led all Division I schools for five straight years from 1995 through ’99.
Notre Dame in 2003 (along with Florida) had 40 former players on opening-day rosters, followed by Florida State (37), Georgia (36), Miami (36) and Tennessee (36).
Here are the former Fighting Irish now active in the pros (R indicates rookie):
| ATLANTA FALCONS | DB Allen Rossum |
| BALIMORE RAVENS | S Gerome Sapp ? |
| DL Anthony Weaver | |
| CHICAGO BEARS | CB Brock Williams |
| OG Mike Gandy | |
| LB Bobbie Howard | |
| CINCINNATI BENGALS | DB Jeff Burris |
| DT Oliver Gibson | |
| CLEVELAND BROWNS | C Jeff Faine ? |
| DALLAS COWBOYS | OL Kurt Vollers |
| DENVER BRONCOS | QB Steve Beuerlein |
| LB Bert Berry | |
| DETROIT LIONS | TE John Owens |
| GREEN BAY PACKERS | OL Brennan Curtin ? |
| RB Tony Fisher | |
| HOUSTON TEXANS | TE Jabari Holloway |
| INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | P Hunter Smith |
| JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | FB Marc Edwards |
| KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | OL Jordan Black ? |
| MIAMI DOLPHINS | C Tim Ruddy |
| FS Shawn Wooden | |
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS | OL Mike Rosenthal |
| NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | WR David Givens |
| NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | K John Carney |
| DB Deveron Harper | |
| NEW YORK GIANTS | DT Lance Legree |
| OT Luke Petitgout | |
| OAKLAND RAIDERS | WR Tim Brown |
| QB Rick Mirer | |
| PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | DT Paul Grasmanis |
| LB Tyreo Harrison | |
| DB Bobby Taylor | |
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS | RB Jerome Bettis |
| SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | WR Arnaz Battle ? |
| DT Bryant Young | |
| ST. LOUIS RAMS | DB Shane Walton ? |
| TAMBA BAY BUCS | OL Sean Mahan ? |
| TENNESSEE TITANS | LB Rocky Boiman |
| P Craig Hentrich | |
| WASHINGTON REDSKINS | DL Renaldo Wynn |
Other players affiliated with teams include WR Javin Hunter with the Baltimore Ravens (injured reserve list), DB Ron Israel with the Minnesota Vikings (signed since start of season), DB Deke Cooper with the Jacksonville Jaguars (signed since start of season) and rookie FB Tom Lopienski with the Indianapolis Colts (practice squad).