Ron Israel (born January 5, 1978) is an American former professional football safety who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Early life Ron Israel was born on January 5, 1978, in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. Raised in Lawnside, New Jersey,Canavan, Tom. "Jersey kids lead Notre Dame by Rutgers", The Times, November 19, 2000. Accessed September 23, 2026, via Newspapers.com. "Israel, also of Lawnside, had an interception in the third quarter." he played high school football at Haddon Heights High School in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. He posted 104 tackles and eight interceptions as a senior in 1996, earning Philadelphia Inquirer All-South Jersey honors.
College career Israel enrolled at the University of Notre Dame to play college football for the Fighting Irish. He redshirted the 1997 season and played for the Irish from 1998 to 2001. He recorded three interception for 41 yards during his college career, all coming in 2000. Israel missed most of his senior year due to a hamstring injury.
Professional career After going undrafted in the 2002 NFL draft, Israel signed with the Washington Redskins on April 24, 2002. He was waived on August 26, 2002, after the fourth of five preseason games.
Israel was signed by the Minnesota Vikings on April 7, 2003. He was waived on August 31 and re-signed on September 9. He played in one game for the Vikings, posting one solo tackle on special teams. Israel was waived on September 22, 2003. He was listed as a safety while with the Vikings.
On September 24, 2003, the Cleveland Browns signed Israel to the team's practice squad. He was released on September 30 but signed to the practice squad again on December 3. He was promoted to the active roster on December 10. Israel did not play in any games for the Browns and was waived on December 23, 2003.
Israel signed a reserve/future contract with the Denver Broncos on December 31, 2003. He was waived by the Broncos on August 31, 2004, after the fourth of five preseason games.
Israel was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 15, 2005, and allocated to NFL Europe to play for the Amsterdam Admirals. He started all ten games at free safety for the Admirals during the 2005 NFL Europe season, posting 45 defensive tackles, 11 special teams tackles, one interception, four pass breakups, and one sack. The Admirals finished the year with a 6–4 record. In World Bowl XIII, Israel and Norman LeJeune deflected a Berlin Thunder pass in the end zone as time expired, securing a 27–21 Amsterdam victory. On September 3, 2005, before the start of the NFL regular season, Israel was placed on the Steelers' NFL Europe reserve/non-football injury list. He was released by Pittsburgh on February 23, 2006.
Personal life Israel's older brother, Steve, also played in the NFL.
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