’16 Julian Love

Now an NFL star. Once an NCAA All-American. Always a Nazareth Academy Roadrunner. What’s not to Love?

“It was Nazareth Academy, our small Catholic school, that instilled important lessons in my life and my career,” Julian Love ’16 said on June 15, during a packed reception and ceremony to retire his #20 Naz jersey – the first football jersey Nazareth has retired.

It was an honor befitting the man. Julian’s considerable accomplishments after his time at Naz are his own, but we can’t help but think of them with Naz pride. After helping Naz Football bring home two State Championships, he played at Notre Dame and was named an All-American in 2018. A 4th-round draft pick by the New York Giants, Julian was named a 2022 team captain and received the 22nd annual George Young-Ernie Accorsi Media Good Guy Award. In 2023, he signed a two-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

Julian knows he didn’t accomplish his dreams without a village behind him. Surrounded by his family, including siblings Devinne ’14 and Michael ’19, his wife Julia Veome Love ’15, plus coaches and teammates, it was clear that our Naz family came together not only to honor Julian as a player and teammate, but also Julian as the whole person. “This honor is about the type of man you were when you represented Nazareth as a student-athlete and the type of man you’ve become,” Head Football Coach Tim Racki said during an emotional tribute.

Julian represents a tradition of excellence, bringing together personal talent and integrity enriched and guided by Nazareth’s Four Pillars. “I remember the many ways Julian got involved in the fuller life of our school,” recalled President Deborah Tracy. “The ways he embraced Campus Ministry, service, drama, and other sports.”

Alongside his successes in the NFL, Julian has continued to give back, hosting a youth camp each summer on our campus and establishing a scholarship for current and future Roadrunners. “He has always been a legitimately good human being. Humble, involved and dedicated to the greater school community,” Coach Casey Moran ’01 remembered.

Julian made it clear to everyone that Naz will always be his roots. “I have worn a lot of jerseys in my life, but none compare to the #20 Naz jersey. I have played in a lot of stadiums and under plenty of lights and yet nothing seemed as big or bright as when we played our very first Friday night game here.”

Congratulations, Julian, on this honor! Go Seahawks, and Go Naz!