Georgia football: Top five Bulldogs who excelled outside of the NFL

Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; College Gameday hosts Samantha Ponder and David Pollack prior to the Battle at Bristol football game between the Virginia Tech Holies and Tennessee Volunteers at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; College Gameday hosts Samantha Ponder and David Pollack prior to the Battle at Bristol football game between the Virginia Tech Holies and Tennessee Volunteers at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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UNDATED – Nose guard Bill Goldberg Jr. of the University of Georgia Bulldogs makes a block during a game circa the 1988-1991 season. (Photo by Allen Steele/Getty Images)
UNDATED – Nose guard Bill Goldberg Jr. of the University of Georgia Bulldogs makes a block during a game circa the 1988-1991 season. (Photo by Allen Steele/Getty Images)

1. Bill Goldberg: Pro-wrestling, film, television

Well who else would it be? Goldberg the sport of football in the mid-1990’s after a few years in the NFL and the World Football League. Goldberg only appeared in 14 NFL games with only one start in six seasons.

Once his football career ended, Goldberg took up power lifting and martial arts and eventually he returned to Athens and joined World Championship Wrestling’s Power Plant. By 1997 he had debuted on WCW Monday Nitro and soon he had a 155-0 record.

The Atlanta based promotion was the perfect place for the former All-SEC defensive lineman to get his start as a professional wrestler because it helped make him an instant star.

Since then, Goldberg has had an on-and-off career in wrestling with his third and most recent run beginning last October and ending at Wrestlemania in April. He’s also one of only a small few wrestlers recognized by the WWE to have held three different world championships.

Besides wrestling, Goldberg has made numerous other appearances on TV and film. he hosted the Speed Network show Bullrun for three seasons, and was a contestant of the 2010 season of the Celebrity Apprentice. Other TV appearances include episodes of Law and Order: SVU, Arliss, and Family Guy.

In film, Goldberg is credited as appearing in 13 movies. The 2005 Longest Yard remake starring Adam Sandler, Burt Reynolds and other wrestlers is his most famous movie. But he also stared in the cheesy, yet oddly fun Christmas horror film Santa’s Slay.

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Out of everyone on this list, Goldberg has the most cross over appeal. Mention Goldberg to almost anyone in America and WCW and WWE wrestling will immediately come to mind, followed by his spots on TV and film.

But mention Goldberg to a Georgia football fan and they’ll immediately think of one of the best defensive lineman to ever play between the hedges.