Super Bowl has finally arrived. While most Georgia football fans are disappointed that the Atlanta Falcons didn’t come close to making it this season, there’s still plenty to cheer for.
This year’s Super Bowl features six former Bulldogs across the two active rosters—two with the Kansas City Chiefs and an impressive four with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Both teams can credit their Georgia alumni for contributing to their success, but it was Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts who gave a special shoutout to the Bulldogs on Philadelphia’s roster when asked about the cultural differences between this year’s team and the one that made the Super Bowl two years ago.
“I think a big part of it has to do with the Georgia background on defense,” Hurts said via SI.com. “That starts with Nakobe Dean and all those guys who played together in college and brought their mindset to the league. I think that’s had a big impact on our defensive culture—how they play, their unity, who they are—and I see that influence throughout the entire team.”
Super Bowl Sunday is finally here. Unfortunately for most Georgia football fans, the Atlanta Falcons did not even sniff the Super Bowl this season, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to cheer for either.
This year’s Super Bowl will feature six players comined on the two active rosters. This includes two Bulldogs with the Kansas City Chiefs and a whopping for players on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Both teams would give some credit to the Bulldogs on their team, but it was Eagles QB Jalen Hurts who gave a big shoutout to the Bulldogs on Philadelphia’s team when he was asked about the difference in culture from this year’s team to the squad who also made the Super Bowl two years ago.
“I think a big part of it has to do with the Georgia background on defense, you know,” Hurts said via si.com. “And I think that starts with Nakobe Dean and all those guys that were able to play ball in college together and bring their ways to the league. And so I think that has a big impact on our culture on defense, how they play how together, who they are, and then I think I kind of seeps through the team in many ways.”
Georgia given a lot of credit for Philly’s success
Jalen Hurts could have highlighted any player on the Eagles when asked about the team’s culture, but he specifically pointed out the four former Georgia Bulldogs who’ve had a significant impact. While the players themselves deserve most of the credit, it’s hard to ignore the role Kirby Smart played in their development. Hurts didn’t mention Smart by name, but his influence is undeniable in helping these players reach the NFL and thrive at the highest level.
What makes this shoutout even more valuable for Georgia is how it can bolster Smart’s recruiting efforts. It’s a powerful message to future recruits: why wouldn’t you want to play for a program that consistently produces players who not only reach the NFL but also become key contributors on teams competing for Super Bowl titles?