Rylie Mills is a mountain of a man who somehow moves like a much smaller human. If you've watched a single Notre Dame game over the last few years, you likely saw #99 wrecking a perfectly good offensive game plan. He's 6'5". He's nearly 300 pounds. And yet, his get-off at the line of scrimmage looks like something out of a Madden glitch.
Honestly, the Rylie Mills Notre Dame DL era was one of the most consistent stretches of interior line play South Bend has seen in a decade. It wasn't always flashy. He didn't always have the double-digit sack numbers that make Heisman voters drool. But the guy was a brick wall who could also sprint.
The Freakish Athleticism of Rylie Mills Notre Dame DL
Scouts basically spent four years trying to figure out where Mills fit best. Was he a 3-4 defensive end? Could he play the three-technique inside? At Lake Forest High School in Illinois, he was already a four-star recruit because he had "heavy hands." That's a scout-speak way of saying when he hits an offensive lineman, they stay hit.
By the time he became a fixture for the Fighting Irish, he had filled out that massive frame. He arrived early in 2020, and by 2024, he was the undisputed leader of a defensive front that made life miserable for the ACC.
You've got to look at the Florida State game in 2024 to really "get" it. That was his masterpiece. Three sacks in a single game. He wasn't just bull-rushing guys; he was using a swim move that shouldn't be possible for someone with his wingspan. He finished that final season with 7.5 sacks, which is wild for a guy who spends half his time getting double-teamed by guards and centers.
👉 See also: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
What Really Happened in the Playoff?
The story of Mills at Notre Dame is kind of a "what if" tale because of how it ended. It was December 20, 2024. The Irish were playing Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Everything was going great. Mills actually recorded a sack on Kurtis Rourke in the third quarter—his 17th career sack.
Then, disaster.
A torn ACL. Just like that, his college career was over. It was brutal to watch. Notre Dame made a deep run, eventually falling in the National Championship game, but you could tell the interior presence wasn't the same without him. He had to watch from the sidelines while his draft stock took a temporary hit.
Why the Seattle Seahawks Stole Him
Most people thought Mills might slide deep into the draft because of the knee. The injury happened so late in the season that he couldn't even do the physical stuff at the NFL Combine. He just sat there in a suit, talking to teams and showing off his football IQ.
✨ Don't miss: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
The Seahawks weren't scared. They saw the 2024 All-American tape and took him in the 5th round (142nd overall) of the 2025 draft. Basically, they got a second-round talent for a fifth-round price because of a medical red flag.
Breaking Down the Scouting Report
When you look at his game, there are three things that stand out.
- The Reach: His 32 5/8-inch arms allow him to get into a blocker’s chest before they can even react. If he gets his hands on you first, the rep is over.
- Versatility: At Notre Dame, Al Golden moved him all over. He played over the nose, he played the "B" gap, and he even stood up on the edge a few times.
- The Motor: Some big guys take plays off. Mills doesn't. He chases down screens 20 yards downfield.
He does have weaknesses, though. He’s tall, which sounds like a plus, but it means he naturally plays with high leverage. In the NFL, if a 6'2" guard gets under his pads, Mills can get moved. He’s also "undersized" weight-wise for some interior schemes, often hovering around 290–295 lbs.
The Road to Recovery
The 2025 NFL season was a redshirt year for him, mostly. He was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list to start. He didn't make his professional debut until December 14, 2025, against the Colts. He only played seven snaps. He didn't record a stat. But for a guy who was rehabbing a shredded knee for 359 days, just being on the field was a massive win.
🔗 Read more: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
He's now part of a Seattle rotation that includes monsters like Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy. It’s the perfect environment. He doesn't have to be "The Guy" yet. He just has to be the high-motor rotational piece he was in his early Notre Dame days.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you’re tracking Mills' progress or looking to understand his impact, keep an eye on these specific markers:
- Pad Level: Watch his first two steps in 2026. If he stays low, he's unblockable. If he stands up, he'll struggle against NFL power.
- Weight Gain: Look for him to hit the 305-308 lb range. That’s the sweet spot for an NFL 3-tech who wants to stay on the field for three downs.
- Hand Technique: Mills wins with his "hump" move and a club-rip. If he adds a consistent counter-move, he becomes a double-digit sack threat at the next level.
The Rylie Mills Notre Dame DL legacy is secure as one of the most athletic big men to ever wear the gold helmet. Now, it's just a matter of seeing if that ACL recovery allows him to regain the twitch that made him a nightmare in South Bend.
To track his official NFL progress, check his updated status on the Seahawks' active roster and monitor his snap counts in the 2026 preseason.