As a true freshman at Notre Dame in 2016, Love played in 12 games with eight starts and recorded 45 tackles and one interception.[3][4] As a sophomore in 2017, he started all 13 games, recording 68 tackles and three interceptions.[5][6] Love returned as a starter his junior year in 2018.[7][8] On January 4, 2019, Love announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL draft.[9]
During rookie training camp, defensive coordinator James Bettcher began having Love learn to play free safety with the aide of starting free safety Antoine Bethea.[14] He continued to play cornerback, free safety, and nickelback in training camp and competed against Grant Haley to be the primary slot cornerback while also competing to be the backup free safety against Michael Thomas.[15][16] Head coach Pat Shurmur named Love the third free safety on the depth chart to begin the regular season, behind starter Antoine Bethea and backup Sean Chandler.[17]
On September 8, 2019, Love made his professional regular season debut in a 27–35 loss at the Dallas Cowboys. On November 24, 2019, Love made a solo tackle, deflected a pass, and returned his first career interception thrown by Mitchell Trubisky for a 30-yard return during the Giants' 19–14 loss at the Chicago Bears.[18] In Week 14, Love earned his first career start in place of starting strong safety Jabrill Peppers and collected seven combined tackles (four solo) in a 13–31 loss at the Green Bay Packers. On December 29, 2019, he recorded a season-high nine combined tackles (eight solo), made two tackles for-a-loss, and a pass deflection in a 17–34 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He finished his rookie season in 2019 with a total of 37 combined tackles (30 solo), five tackles for-a-loss, three pass deflections, a forced fumble, and an interception in 13 games and five starts.[19]
The New York Giants finished the 2019 NFL season with a 4–12 record and did not qualify for the playoffs. On December 30, 2019, the New York Giants fired head coach Pat Shurmur and his coaching staff.[20]
In Week 2, Love recorded five combined tackles (four solo), a pass deflection, and made his first interception of the season by a pass attempt coincidentally thrown by Mitchell Trubisky in a 17–13 loss at the Chicago Bears.[24] On September 27, 2020, he collected a season-high 12 combined tackles (10 solo) as the Giants lost 9–36 to the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Pat Shurmur chose to replace Love as the starting free safety with free agent acquisition Logan Ryan starting in Week 4. He finished the season with a total of 64 combined tackles (45 solo), three pass deflections, a tackle for-a-loss, and an interception in 16 games and four starts.[25] The New York Giants finished second in the NFC East, but missed the playoffs with a 6–10 record.
2022
In Week 6 of the 2022 season against the Baltimore Ravens, Love intercepted a pass thrown by Lamar Jackson which led to the game-winning touchdown as the Giants won 24–20.[26]
Seattle Seahawks
On March 17, 2023, the Seattle Seahawks signed Love to a two-year, $12.00 million contract that includes,$5.98 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4.82 million.[27][13]
In Week 8 of the 2023 season against the Cleveland Browns, Love intercepted a pass thrown by P. J. Walker that led to the game-winning touchdown as the Seahawks won 24–20.[28] In Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Love intercepted two passes thrown by Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter. His second interception was a game-sealing interception which led to the Seahawks winning the game 20–17. He was named National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week.[29] He was ranked 95th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.[30]
On July 24, 2024, the Seattle Seahawks signed Love to a three-year, $36.00 million contract extension that includes $13.16 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $10.50 million.[31][13]
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