Rocket Ismail is a retired professional football player. A wide receiver and kick returner, he came to prominence playing college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before moving on to both the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1991–92 and then the NFL from 1993–2001.

Ismail recorded two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the NFL and was a CFL All-Star in 1991, as well as the MVP of the 79th Grey Cup. Ismail first came to prominence as a receiver for the University of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish won the College Football National Championship in 1988, placed second in 1989 winning the 1990 Orange Bowl against Colorado, and again went to the 1991 Orange Bowl, losing to Colorado 10–9. In that game, he returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown that would have won the game for Notre Dame and stopped Colorado from winning a share of the National Championship; however, the play was called back on a clipping penalty sealing the Irish defeat. In 2004, College Football News named Ismail the No. 75 player on its list of the Top 100 Greatest College Football Players of All-Time.

He was also selected by Sports Illustrated to the 85-man roster of its all-20th Century college football team. Ismail was a color analyst on ESPN's College GameDay in 2003 and 2004. Ismail cohosted Cowboys Game Night on FSN Southwest with co-host Nate Newton and Ric Renner.