Sept. 21, 1998
The University of Notre Dame has more of its former football players participating in the National Football League in 1998 than any other college or university.
Forty former Notre Dame football players appeared on ’98 opening day active rosters of NFL teams, according to figures released by the league.
Notre Dame placed more players on opening-day rosters than any other school — with Florida State second with 38, followed by Penn State (35) and Tennessee (34).
1998 marks the fourth straight year Notre Dame has had more players on opening-day rosters than any other school.
Here are the former Fighting Irish now active in the pros:
BUFFALO BILLS C Dusty Zeigler CAROLINA PANTHERS QB Steve Beuerlein FL Raghib Ismail RB Anthony Johnson S Rod Smith LB Kinnon Tatum CHICAGO BEARS CB Tom Carter DT Jim Flanigan DT Paul Grasmanis T Andy Heck DETROIT LIONS TE Pete Chryplewicz LB Scott Kowalkowski GREEN BAY PACKERS SE Derrick Mayes QB Rick Mirer DB Pat Terrell INDIANAPOLIS COLTS LB Bert Berry CB Jeff Burris JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS S Travis Davis DT Renaldo Wynn KANSAS CITY CHIEFS C Tim Grunhard MIAMI DOLPHINS C Tim Ruddy CB Shawn Wooden MINNESOTA VIKINGS LB Pete Bercich NEW ORLEANS SAINTS RB Ray Zellars OAKLAND RAIDERS TE Derek Brown WR Tim Brown PHILADELPHIA EAGLES CB Allen Rossum CB Bobby Taylor PITTSBURGH STEELERS DT Oliver Gibson RB Jerome Bettis ST. LOUIS RAMS CB Todd Lyght SAN DIEGO CHARGERS K John Carney T Aaron Taylor SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS DE Junior Bryant FB Marc Edwards LB Tony Peterson TE Irv Smith DT Bryant Young SEATTLE SEAHAWKS RB Ricky Watters TENNESSEE OILERS P Craig Hentrich