Category: Dawgs In The NFL

Rams QB Matthew Stafford named as finalist for prestigious award

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford nominated for prestigious award after a strong 2023 NFL season

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is a contender to win the AP Comeback Player of the Year award. Stafford, who was the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft, played college football at Georgia from 2006-2008.

Matthew Stafford showed toughness and grit throughout this NFL season and especially in the wild-card round against the Detroit Lions. Stafford returned to form after struggling through injuries in 2022. Stafford threw for 10 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and 2,087 passing yards in 2022, which was one of the worst seasons of his career. Stafford and the Rams were off the mark in 2022 after winning the Super Bowl the previous season.

This year, Matthew Stafford bounced back and threw for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns. Stafford helped Los Angeles make the NFL playoffs and was selected to the Pro Bowl after an outstanding 2023 season.

Stafford is one of five nominees to win the AP Comeback Player of the Year award. He joins Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The NFL Honors take place on Feb. 8 at 9:00 p.m. ET in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Green Bay Packers sign former Georgia Bulldogs kicker

Green Bay Packers sign former Georgia Bulldogs kicker for the 2024 NFL season

The Green Bay Packers signed former Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny on Wednesday, the team announced.

Podlesny served as UGA’s place kicker and kickoff specialist during the back-to-back national championship run from 2021-2022. He played in 40 games as a Bulldog, making 82% of his field goal attempts, which is good enough for third all-time in Georgia history.

Podlesny earned All-SEC first-team and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year honors for his performance in 2022.

The St. Simons Island, Georgia, native went undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings but was waived in August after losing a competition for the starting spot.

Podlesny was extremely reliable at Georgia and has the tools to compete with Packers’ kicker Anders Carlson for the starting spot in Green Bay. Carlson missed an NFL-high 11 kicks this season, including a pivotal field goal in the divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Grading how Georgia football NFL rookies performed in 2023

Evaluating how all 10 Georgia Bulldog rookies in the NFL performed in 2023

The Georgia Bulldogs are on a historic NFL draft run. The Dawgs had 10 players selected in the 2023 NFL draft after setting the record for the most players drafted in a seven round draft in 2022.

Eight Georgia rookies made NFL postseason in 2023. NFL draft scouts really value Georgia’s winning culture.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter had the most impressive season of any Georgia rookie in the NFL. Carter is in the running to be the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year and immediately showed why he was ranked as one of the top players in the draft.

How did we grade the rookie years of all 10 Georgia Bulldog rookies in the NFL?

A closer look at James Cook’s big season for the Buffalo Bills

A closer look at James Cook’s big season for the Buffalo Bills

Former Georgia running back James Cook capped off an impressive year for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. The Kansas City Chiefs ultimately walked away with a 27-24 win to move on to the AFC Championship, but the year Cook had shouldn’t go unnoticed.

The Bills took Cook with the No. 63 overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft after Cook helped lead Georgia to its first national title in 41 years.

Cook served as backup to Devin Singletary during his rookie season, totaling 89 carries for 507 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He also added another 180 yards on 21 catches and a score as a receiver.

After Singletary moved on to the Houston Texans, Cook was tasked with the starting role, something he was clearly prepared for. In 2023, Cook finished third among all NFL tailbacks in total scrimmage yards (1,567).

His 1,112 rushing yards marks the first time a Buffalo Bills running back has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark since LeSean McCoy in 2017. Cook is also the only Bill to rush for at least 1,000 yards within his first two seasons since Marshawn Lynch in 2007.

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Even though the Bills season ended in another early exit from the NFL playoffs, Buffalo has found a diamond in Cook.

 

How Georgia Bulldogs performed in the NFL divisional round

Over a dozen Georgia Bulldogs suited up to play in the NFL divisional round

Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL made a significant impact in the divisional round. Eight former Bulldogs will play in the NFC and AFC championship games. The Detroit Lions are the only remaining NFL team without a former Georgia Bulldog on their roster.

Our former Georgia football player of the week in the divisional round is San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Chris Conley. Conley is a true professional. He barely played for San Francisco throughout the regular season, but he was ready when his name was called. Conley came up with a clutch 17-yard catch to help the 49ers earn a comeback win over the Green Bay Packers.

How did other Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL perform in the divisional round?

Tennessee Titans hold second interview with former Georgia RB

Former Georgia football running back is having a second interview for the Tennessee Titans’ vacant head coach role

The Tennessee Titans are having a second interview with former Georgia Bulldogs running back Thomas Brown on Monday. The Titans plan to interview Brown in-person after previously completing a virtual interview. Thomas Brown impressed the Titans in his first interview.

The Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel after a disappointing year and are looking for a new head coach. Tennessee is also doing a second interview with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Titans Wire has excellent coverage of Tennessee’s coaching search.

Brown served as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023. He was the Panthers’ play-caller for a portion (primarily the second-half of the season) of Carolina’s rough 2-15 season.

Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich was fired midway through the season. Carolina is also looking for a head coach.

Brown served as an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay before becoming Carolina’s offensive coordinator. He is highly respected throughout the NFL.

The Chicago Bears interviewed Brown for their vacant offensive coordinator role, but elected to hire former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

Brown is not the only NFL head coach candidate with Georgia ties. Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive coordinator Todd Monken has received a bunch of interest as a head coach candidate. Monken has helped the Baltimore Ravens make an AFC championship appearance in his first season as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator.

When to watch Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL divisional round

Over a dozen Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL are expected to play in the divisional round

There are 13 Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL that are expected to suit up to play in the divisional round of the NFL postseason. Overall, 33 total Georgia Bulldogs were on NFL rosters for the playoffs.

Five former Bulldogs will be playing in the Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers game. Additionally, Four former Dawgs are facing off as the Kansas City Chiefs travel to play at the Buffalo Bills.

When can Georgia football fans watch their favorite Dawgs in the NFL this weekend? What Georgia Bulldogs are playing in the divisional round and who is on a reserve list and unable to play?

Rams coach Sean McVay updates Stetson Bennett’s status for 2024

Sean McVay provides update on former Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett and what his status is for 2024

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is unsure about the future of former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett. The Rams placed Bennett on the reserve/non-football injury list in September, and McVay has been careful to not say much about Bennett’s status since.

The Rams fell to the Detroit Lions in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs in Matthew Stafford’s return to Detroit.

McVay made it clear Stafford is expected to be the team’s quarterback in 2024. He did not provide much clarity on whether he expects Bennett to be with the Rams in 2024.

You know, I don’t know that. I think that’s a conversation for another time. I think he’s doing better, but I wouldn’t be in a position to answer that accurately right now.

The Los Angeles Rams ruled Bennett out in Week 1 due to a right shoulder injury. However, McVay shared that Bennett was placed on the non-football injury list for reasons outside of his shoulder injury.

Bennett had an up-and-down preseason for the Rams, but made Los Angeles’ final roster. The former Georgia Bulldog won back-to-back national championships to end his college football career. However, his NFL career has not had the start he was hoping for.

NFL veteran Carson Wentz served as Los Angeles’ backup quarterback behind Matthew Stafford to finish the year. Wentz is not under contract for the 2024 season, so the Rams are still looking for a player to be their second-string quarterback next season.

Bennett was the 128th pick of the 2023 NFL draft. He was expected to be the Rams’ backup quarterback when healthy, but now his future with Los Angeles is murky.

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The Rams finished the 2023 regular season with a 10-7 record.

Titans request interview with former Georgia RB

Former Georgia football running back requested to interview for the Tennessee Titans’ vacant head coach role

The Tennessee Titans requested an interview with former Georgia Bulldogs running back Thomas Brown, per a report from Kimberly Martin.

The Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel after a disappointing year and are looking for a new head coach. Tennessee wants to interview Brown for its vacant head coach position.

Brown served as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023. He was the Panthers’ play-caller for a portion of Carolina’s season. The Panthers and rookie quarterback Bryce Young struggled mightily in 2023.

Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich was fired midway through the season. Carolina is also looking for a head coach.

Brown was an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay before becoming Carolina’s offensive coordinator. He is highly respected throughout the NFL.

The Chicago Bears are also interviewing Brown for their vacant offensive coordinator role. The Bears have the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft and a number of interesting pieces on offense.

Update: the Titans completed their interview with Thomas Brown on Jan. 18.

Brown is not the only NFL head coach candidate with Georgia ties. Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive coordinator Todd Monken was requested to interview with two other teams. Monken has done an excellent job this season as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator.

Highlights: Georgia Bulldogs show out on NFL wild-card weekend

Looking at how Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL performed in the wild-card round

Many of the 33 total Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL postseason made significant impacts for their respective teams. Georgia is on a hot streak of producing elite NFL draft talent. The Dawgs had 25 players selected over the last two NFL drafts and many of these players are now making their NFL playoff debuts.

Our former Georgia player of the week for the wild-card weekend has to be Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker. Walker recorded 11 tackles as the Packers became the first No. 7 seed to upset a No. 2 seed in NFL history.

How did other Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL perform in the wild-card round?