You’ve seen it every Sunday. You can’t escape it. Whether it’s a massive defensive tackle swallowing up a double team or a wide receiver making a catch that honestly shouldn't be humanly possible, the "G" on the helmet might be gone, but the impact is everywhere.
Georgia football players in the NFL have basically turned the league into an extension of the SEC.
As of the start of the 2025-2026 season, 57 former Bulldogs were on active rosters. That is an absurd number. It’s the third-highest total for any college program, trailing only Alabama and Ohio State. But it’s not just about the quantity. It’s the way these guys are playing. We aren't just talking about roster fillers; we’re talking about the guys who are actually deciding who wins the Super Bowl.
The Philly Dawgs and the Trenches
If you want to see what Kirby Smart has done to the NFL, just look at the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s almost a running joke at this point. Philly has seven former Bulldogs on the roster, mostly on defense. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are the anchors there.
Honestly, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for them lately. Just this past season, critics were coming for them after some "porous" run defense in a game against the Rams where they were getting moved by double teams. But then, in true Georgia fashion, they turned into heroes. In a wild 33-26 comeback, Jordan Davis blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown. That’s a 340-pound man scoring a game-sealing touchdown.
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Carter is another story. He’s polarizing. He was even ejected in Week 1 against the Cowboys. But despite the drama and some nagging shoulder injuries, he was still named a Pro Bowl starter. The league knows that even when he’s not putting up 10 sacks, he’s wrecking the interior of the line.
Skill Position Stars: Pickens and Bowers
For a long time, the knock on Georgia was that they only produced "bus drivers" on offense or strictly defensive stalwarts. That narrative is dead.
George Pickens is currently torching the league. After being traded from the Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick, he’s looked like a different human being. By November 2025, he was second in the NFL with 908 receiving yards in just 10 games. He’s averaging about 18.1 fantasy points per game. If you've watched him, you know he’s a "highlight waiting to happen." One-handed grabs out of bounds are just a Tuesday for him.
Then there’s Brock Bowers. He’s already breaking records with the Las Vegas Raiders. As a rookie, he hauled in 112 receptions—an NFL rookie record for any position—and racked up 1,194 yards. Even with a PCL injury that sidelined him for a bit in late 2025, he’s still the primary target for a Raiders offense that's, frankly, struggling. He had a Week 9 performance where he dropped 43.3 PPR points. That's not just "good for a rookie," that's elite by any standard.
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The Old Guard and the New Wave
Matthew Stafford is still out here slinging it. He recently passed 60,000 career passing yards, becoming only the 10th QB in history to do it. Even at this stage of his career, he’s an MVP candidate. In late 2025, he was putting up 300-yard, 3-touchdown games like it was 2011.
On the other side of the ball, Roquan Smith continues to be the most consistent linebacker in football. He’s led the Baltimore Ravens in tackles for three straight seasons. In 2025, he tallied 130 total tackles despite missing two games. He’s the brain of that defense.
The pipeline isn't slowing down, either. Look at the names who just jumped from Athens to the pros in the 2025 draft:
- Ladd McConkey (Chargers): Already a starter, catching 6 balls for 74 yards in his debut.
- Kamari Lassiter (Texans): Leading his team in tackles from the cornerback spot.
- Tykee Smith (Buccaneers): Tied a career-high with 11 tackles in his first game against the Falcons.
- Amarius Mims (Bengals): Starting at offensive tackle and protecting Joe Burrow.
Why it Matters
The success of Georgia football players in the NFL is why Georgia is the recruiting king. High school kids see George Pickens getting paid by Dallas or Jordan Davis scoring touchdowns on Sunday Night Football and they want that.
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The "Georgia-to-NFL" pipeline has produced 62 drafted players since 2020. That is more than any other school in the country. It’s a factory. Kirby Smart hasn't just built a college team; he's built a developmental league for the pros.
How to Track Your Favorite Bulldogs
If you're trying to keep up with these guys for your fantasy team or just because you bleed Red and Black, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Check the "Dawgs in the NFL" weekly reports: The official Georgia Athletics site drops a summary every Tuesday.
- Follow the Eagles and Packers: These two teams are essentially "Georgia North." If you want to see the most Bulldogs in one place, these are your teams.
- Watch the 2026 Draft declarations: Names like CJ Allen and Monroe Freeling are already declaring. The next wave is coming.
The reality is that Georgia has finally bridged the gap between "great college team" and "NFL talent factory." Whether it's the 24-year streak of having at least one alum in the Super Bowl or the sheer dominance of players like Bowers and Pickens, the Bulldogs aren't just in the NFL—they are the NFL.