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

By Kyle Funderburk

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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HAMILTON, CANADA – JULY 26: Hamilton Tiger-Cats players run out onto the field before the start of CFL game action against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 26, 2014 at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
HAMILTON, CANADA – JULY 26: Hamilton Tiger-Cats players run out onto the field before the start of CFL game action against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 26, 2014 at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

2. Ben Zambiasi: Canadian Football League

Zambiasi might not be well-known in America outside of the Bulldog Nation, but ask a long-time Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan about him and they’ll most certainly have a lot to say about him.

Zambiasi was a three-time All-SEC linebacker at Georgia from 1975-1977 and earned All-American honors in the Bulldogs 1976 SEC Championship season. As he left Athens, he set the school record for tackles with 467, which still stands to this day. In 2014, Zambiasi was inducted into the Georgia/Florida Hall of Fame.

He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1978 but left the team after training camp. After that, he headed north to Canada where he joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In 10 years in Hamilton, the CFL named him an All-Star six times and an East All-Star eight times.

As a rookie, Zambiasi won the Frank M. Gibson Trophy (outstanding East division rookie). In his second year he won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award. Zambiasi played in four Grey Cup’s during his career with a victory in the 74th Grey Cup (1986).

In 2002, the Tiger-Cats added Zambiasi to their Wall of Honour and in 2004, he joined the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame.

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