A Historic Opening Play
New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon etched his name into the 2026 NFL record books on Wednesday night, scoring the first touchdown of the season during the league’s opener against the Seattle Seahawks. The play, a two-yard reception from quarterback Drake Maye, provided the Patriots with an early 7-0 lead in the highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Super Bowl, according to Slap the Sign.
The touchdown was facilitated by a pass interference penalty against the Seahawks, which occurred during a flea-flicker attempt by Maye intended for wide receiver A.J. Brown, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Despite being an unlikely target, Raridon found himself completely uncovered in the end zone, allowing for an effortless catch that broke the scoreless tie.
The Notre Dame Pipeline
Raridon’s success highlights the ongoing dominance of the Notre Dame football program in developing NFL-caliber tight ends. The third-round draft pick continues a streak spanning two decades in which every primary tight end from the Fighting Irish has been selected in the NFL Draft, a run that began with Anthony Fasano in 2006. Raridon’s transition to the professional level is particularly notable given that he did not record a single touchdown catch during his final season at Notre Dame, despite posting career-highs of 32 receptions and 482 yards.
The absence of touchdowns in his senior year was largely attributed to Notre Dame’s reliance on a dominant running game featuring Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, which often prioritized ground scores in red-zone situations. His immediate impact in the Patriots’ offense suggests a shift in role and potential as a primary target for Maye.
Looking Ahead
The game also saw significant personnel challenges for the Seahawks, who faced the contest without starting quarterback Sam Darnold. Backup Drew Lock stepped into the role after Darnold was sidelined due to an injury described as questionable for return. For the Patriots, Raridon’s emergence serves as a critical development in their tight end depth chart as they look to build on their performance from the previous championship season.