UGA Football Quartet Powers Philadelphia Eagles' Landslide Defensive win over Chiefs
Powered by a slew of UGA football players on defense, the Philadelphia Eagles steamrolled the Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter and Kelee Ringo prevented the back-to-back champion Chiefs from scoring in the first half - an astonishing accomplishment against one of the top quarterbacks in NFL history.
The Chiefs were held scoreless in the first half and did not cross midfield until late into the 3rd quarter of the contest. Davis had two tackles during the matchup - one of which was a sack of Mahomes.
The Bulldog quartet, along with Lewis Cine and Nakobe Dean, added another championship to their legacies. Smith, Carter and Ringo have now won two national titles and a Super Bowl.
That group formed the core of Kirby Smart’s 2021 national championship team that topped Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in Indianapolis. Ringo made his famous pick six in the closing moments of that contest - sending the Bulldogs to their first national title since 1980. Super Bowl LIX is the 24th consecutive season a Georgia Bulldog has played in the Super Bowl.
Before the injury, Dean had a career-high 128 tackles, nine for loss, three sacks, 19 QB hits and pressures, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and an interception in 2024. His start against the Packers was his first career playoff start. He had six tackles in that win.
During Super Bowl week, Eagles starting QB Jalen Hurts said the influence of former UGA players on the Eagles permeated the franchise.
"I think a big part of it has to do with the Georgia background on defense,” Hurts told reporters. “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."
Super Bowl Champion Georgia Bulldogs
David Andrews - 2017, 2019
Zeke Bratkowski - 1967, 1968
Kevin Butler - 1986
Jalen Carter - 2025
Lewis Cine - 2025
Charlie Clemons - 2000
Chris Clemons - Seattle Seahawks
Dick Conn - 1975
Jordan Davis - 2025
Terrell Davis - 1998 (MVP), 1999
Nakobe Dean - 2025
Ray Donaldson - 1996
Dannell Ellerbe - 2013, 2018
Leonard Floyd - 2022
Charles Grant - 2010
Rodney Hampton - 1991
Mecole Hardman - 2020, 2023, 2024
Arnold Harrison - 2006
Verron Haynes - 2006
Keith Henderson - 1990
Malik Herring - 2023, 2024
Terry Hoage - 1992
Tim Jennings - 2007
Guy McIntyre - 1985, 1989, 1990
Sony Michel - 2019, 2022
Malcolm Mitchell - 2017
Jimmy Orr - 1971
Patrick Pass - 2002, 2004, 2005
Jermaine Phillips - 2003
Kelee Ringo - 2025
Jake Scott - 1973 (MVP), 1974
Nolan Smith - 2025
Richard Seymour - 2002, 2004, 2005
Matthew Stafford - 2022
Bill Stanfill - 1973, 1974
Jon Stinchcomb - 2010
DeAngelo Tyson - 2013
Bobby Walden - 1975, 1976
Tim Wansley - 2003
Hines Ward - 2006 (MVP), 2009
Danny Ware - 2008, 2012
Ben Watson - 2005
Jermaine Wiggins - 2002
Jarius Wynn - 2011