Georgia football will see many former stars in NFL opener

The 2022 NFL season officially kicks off tonight, and Georgia football will be well-represented in the first game of the year.

Tonight’s matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, the reigning Super Bowl Champions, will feature seven former Georgia players and coaches. The list includes:

• Matthew Stafford, QB-Rams
• Leonard Floyd, LB-Rams
• Derion Kendrick, CB-Rams
• Thomas Brown, Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Coach-Rams
• Nick Jones, Offensive Assistant-Rams
• James Cook, RB-Bills
• Isaiah McKenzie, WR-Bills

Currently, Georgia has 59 former players in the NFL. In 2022, the Dawgs set a record with 15 players taken in the NFL Draft. You can expect another high number of picks at the end of this season, with guys like Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Kelee Ringo all becoming draft eligible.

The most famous NFL Dawg is Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The former No.1 overall pick is entering his 14th season in the league and his second in Los Angeles. He tied his career highs in touchdown passes at 41 and completion percentage at 67.2% in 2021 as he helped guide the Rams to a 12-5 record and a Super Bowl victory.

These former Georgia football players will take the field in tonight’s first NFL matchup.

He is also five yards away from 50,000 career passing yards. Stafford will be the 12th NFL quarterback in history to accomplish this feat.

Linebacker Leonard Floyd is entering his third season in L.A. He has seen a career renaissance during his time with the team, as he has racked up 20 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. The ninth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft has become one of the leaders of a solid Rams defense that includes stars like Aaron Donald and Bobby Wagner.

Derion Kendrick and James Cook are just two of the 15 Dawg rookies you will see in the 2022 NFL season. Although Kendrick was a sixth-round pickup by L.A., he had an impressive showing in training camp and made the 53-man roster.

After transferring from Clemson in 2021, Kendrick became a leader of the Georgia secondary, and he won the Orange Bowl MVP thanks to his two interceptions against Michigan.

Buffalo picked Cook up in the second round after gaining 1,012 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns for Georgia in 2021. His versatility will be a big asset for Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who is one of the favorites to win the MVP award this year. Expect a big year for Cook, Isaiah McKenzie, and the rest of the Buffalo Bills in 2022.

Former Georgia running back and coach Thomas Brown will begin his third season coaching with the Rams and his first as the tight ends coach. He served as a college running backs coach for teams like Wisconsin, Georgia, and South Carolina and as the offensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes for three seasons under Mark Richt.

He is becoming one of the top young assistant coaches in the league and even interviewed for the Miami Dolphins head coaching job during the offseason. Look for Brown to garner more head coaching interest over the next few years.

Offensive assistant Nick Jones begins his second year with the Rams. He previously coached as an assistant at Georgia, Coastal Carolina, Air Force, Colorado State, and the Atlanta Falcons. Jones played as an offensive lineman for the Dawgs from 2003-2006 and helped Georgia win the 2005 SEC Championship.

This NFL season is poised to be a big one for every Dawg in the NFL, and we wish them success as they begin a new season.