UGA football: Best NFL careers by Georgia Bulldogs in Super Bowl era

Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Robert Geathers of the Cincinnati Bengals (Photo by Tyler Barrick /Getty Images) /

player. 56. . . . Robert Geathers (DE). 12

Years at UGA: 2001-2003
Years in NFL: 2004-2014
Teams Played For: Cincinnati Bengals
Notable Accomplishments: 34 career sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions

Geathers spent his entire NFL career in Cincinnati, and while playing on some notably bad teams he still performed at an incredibly high level. He never really received the national recognition he was due despite putting up numbers that were on par with other Pro Bowl players at his position.

He led the team in sacks and/or tackles several times during his career in Cincy, and was sits sixth all-time in franchise history in tackles for loss, eight in sacks, and fourth in quarterback hits.

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Rodney Hampton of the New York Giants (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

player. 31. . . . Rodney Hampton (RB). 11

Years at UGA: 1987-1989
Years in NFL: 1990-1997
Teams Played For: New York Giants
Notable Accomplishments: Two-time Pro Bowl, Super Bowl champion

Another in a long line of great running backs that came out of Georgia in the 1980s, Rodney Hampton was a first-round draft pick and played his entire career with the Giants. The bruising running back was a big early-season part of the Giants run to Super Bowl XXV, but wasn’t able to finish the season that year due to injury.

Despite having a shortened career due to knee injuries, Hampton still managed to post five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 1991-1995 and currently sits 65th all-time for league rushing leaders.

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Kevin Butler of the Chicago Bears (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

player. 57. . . . Kevin Butler (K). 10

Years at UGA: 1981-1984
Years in NFL: 1985-1997
Teams Played For: Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals
Notable Accomplishments: Super Bowl Champion, Top 100 Bears of All-Time

Known for his booming leg, the Bears drafted kicker Kevin Butler in the fourth round of the 1985 NFL Draft, and he immediately became a legend in Chicago.

Butler broke Walter Payton’s record for the all-time leading scorer in Bears franchise history (which has since been surpassed by Robbie Gould) and set a rookie scoring record with 144 points, going 31-for-37 on field goals and making all 51 extra point attempts.

The Bears listed Butler as No. 71 of the Top 100 Chicago Bears of All Time.