WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The NFL regular season concluded on Sunday Night Football when the Detroit Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings. Seven former Boilermakers saw action in Week 18.
Payne Durham scored for the second consecutive game on a six-yard touchdown strike from Baker Mayfield. The third quarter touchdown helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers erase a 16-6 deficit to defeat the New Orleans Saints 27-19 and clinch the NFC South title.
Durham's second regular season in the NFL ended with 11 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Aidan O'Connell started for the Las Vegas Raiders for the third consecutive game and the seventh time this season. He finished 24-of-34 (70.6%) with 214 yards and two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers, while adding four rushes for 13 yards.
O'Connell's 2024 season ended 154-of-243 (63.4%) for 1,612 yards and eight touchdowns. He also tallied 21 rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. led the New York Giants with 14 rushes for 59 yards and added two catches for seven yards in the finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. He ended the season starting 12 of the last 13 games for the Giants.
Tracy finished his rookie campaign with 192 rushes for 839 yards, five touchdowns and 38 catches for 284 yards and one touchdown. Tracy Jr. placed third in the NFL in rushing yards by a rookie this season.
Cory Trice Jr. earned his first NFL start when the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Cincinnati Bengals. He led the Steelers with 11 total tackles (seven solo) and one tackle-for-loss in the regular season finale.
His rookie regular season concluded with 21 total tackles (15 solo), one interception, one tackle-for-loss and two passes defended.
George Kalafatis was inactive in Week 18 for the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 1 seed and first round bye in the AFC already locked up.
Boilermakers' alumni went a combined 61-54 when active during the 2024 regular season.
With the regular season in the books, six Pro Boilers have advanced to the NFL Playoffs: Derrick Barnes (Lions – Injured Reserve), Durham (Buccaneers), Sanoussi Kane (Ravens), Karlaftis (Chiefs), Reese Taylor (Broncos – Practice Squad) and Trice (Steelers). At least one Purdue Boilermaker has participated in 24 of the past 25 Super Bowls, including Karlaftis winning the past two with Kansas City.
BOILERMAKERS AROUND THE NFL
• Payne Durham (Tampa Bay) – Started at tight end and had two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown vs. New Orleans to help the Buccaneers clinch the NFC South title
• Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas) – Went 24-of-34 with 214 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Chargers
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (N.Y. Giants) – Finished with 14 rushes for 59 yards and added two catches for seven yards at Philadelphia
• Cory Trice Jr. (Pittsburgh) – Registered a team-high 11 tackles and had one tackle-for-loss vs. Cincinnati
• George Karlaftis (Kansas City) – Rested in Week 18 with the Chiefs already possessing the AFC's No. 1 seed and first round bye
• Sanoussi Kane (Baltimore) – Made one solo tackle on special teams in a win over the Cleveland Browns to clinch the AFC North title
• Raheem Mostert (Miami) – Returned one kickoff for 16 yards against the Jets
• Jalen Graham (San Francisco) – Made one solo tackle at Arizona
• Charlie Jones (Cincinnati) – Inactive vs. Pittsburgh
• Reese Taylor (Denver) – Practice Squad
• Markus Bailey (Arizona) – Practice Squad
• Derrick Barnes (Detroit) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• David Bell (Cleveland) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Anthony Brown (Carolina) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Rondale Moore (Atlanta) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
Payne Durham scored for the second consecutive game on a six-yard touchdown strike from Baker Mayfield. The third quarter touchdown helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers erase a 16-6 deficit to defeat the New Orleans Saints 27-19 and clinch the NFC South title.
Durham's second regular season in the NFL ended with 11 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
FIRE THE CANNONS 💣💥
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 5, 2025
📺: #NOvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/8gxgPuLnpt
Quarterback Aidan O'Connell started for the Las Vegas Raiders for the third consecutive game and the seventh time this season. He finished 24-of-34 (70.6%) with 214 yards and two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers, while adding four rushes for 13 yards.
O'Connell's 2024 season ended 154-of-243 (63.4%) for 1,612 yards and eight touchdowns. He also tallied 21 rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Comin' in hot 🔥#LACvsLV | 📺 @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/mN1un4H6oH
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 5, 2025
Tyrone Tracy Jr. led the New York Giants with 14 rushes for 59 yards and added two catches for seven yards in the finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. He ended the season starting 12 of the last 13 games for the Giants.
Tracy finished his rookie campaign with 192 rushes for 839 yards, five touchdowns and 38 catches for 284 yards and one touchdown. Tracy Jr. placed third in the NFL in rushing yards by a rookie this season.
Cory Trice Jr. earned his first NFL start when the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Cincinnati Bengals. He led the Steelers with 11 total tackles (seven solo) and one tackle-for-loss in the regular season finale.
His rookie regular season concluded with 21 total tackles (15 solo), one interception, one tackle-for-loss and two passes defended.
George Kalafatis was inactive in Week 18 for the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 1 seed and first round bye in the AFC already locked up.
Boilermakers' alumni went a combined 61-54 when active during the 2024 regular season.
With the regular season in the books, six Pro Boilers have advanced to the NFL Playoffs: Derrick Barnes (Lions – Injured Reserve), Durham (Buccaneers), Sanoussi Kane (Ravens), Karlaftis (Chiefs), Reese Taylor (Broncos – Practice Squad) and Trice (Steelers). At least one Purdue Boilermaker has participated in 24 of the past 25 Super Bowls, including Karlaftis winning the past two with Kansas City.
BOILERMAKERS AROUND THE NFL
• Payne Durham (Tampa Bay) – Started at tight end and had two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown vs. New Orleans to help the Buccaneers clinch the NFC South title
• Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas) – Went 24-of-34 with 214 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Chargers
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (N.Y. Giants) – Finished with 14 rushes for 59 yards and added two catches for seven yards at Philadelphia
• Cory Trice Jr. (Pittsburgh) – Registered a team-high 11 tackles and had one tackle-for-loss vs. Cincinnati
• George Karlaftis (Kansas City) – Rested in Week 18 with the Chiefs already possessing the AFC's No. 1 seed and first round bye
• Sanoussi Kane (Baltimore) – Made one solo tackle on special teams in a win over the Cleveland Browns to clinch the AFC North title
• Raheem Mostert (Miami) – Returned one kickoff for 16 yards against the Jets
• Jalen Graham (San Francisco) – Made one solo tackle at Arizona
• Charlie Jones (Cincinnati) – Inactive vs. Pittsburgh
• Reese Taylor (Denver) – Practice Squad
• Markus Bailey (Arizona) – Practice Squad
• Derrick Barnes (Detroit) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• David Bell (Cleveland) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Anthony Brown (Carolina) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Rondale Moore (Atlanta) – Injured Reserve (out for season)