Three Former Georgia Bulldogs Under Pressure in the 2025 NFL Season
Fans of the Georgia Bulldogs are already looking forward to the 2025 College Football season getting underway, even though the opening games of the season are still too months down the line. The 2024 campaign was a disappointing one by the recent standards set in Athens, but even so, the Dogs still managed to emerge with the SEC title following a stellar victory against the heavily favoured Texas Longhorns in the Conference Championships. Georgia is are strong contender to make an impression once again, but 2025 also represents a huge year for many of the school's illustrious alumni.
The NFL will be getting underway a few weeks after the Aer Lingus Classic raises the curtain on the NCAA Division I season, specifically on September 4th, when the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys at the Linc. The Birds have plenty of Bulldogs of their own in their list of starters, but they have nothing to prove after their mauling of the history-seeking Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX back in February. We feel that these three ex-Georgia stars do, though.
James Cook
James Cook delivered a standout campaign in 2024, helping the Buffalo Bills reach the AFC Championship game. Plenty of pressure was on the running back following the departure of star receiver Stefon Diggs, but the former Bulldog was up to the task at hand. He delivered his second straight 1,000-yard season at Highmark, as well as posting a whopping 16 rushing touchdowns, the joint most in the league alongside Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Yet, despite the 25-year-old's progress in the pros, the Bills remain haunted by the ghosts of the early 1990s, stuck without a Super Bowl victory despite near-constant contention. Last season, they came close, but they were downed by the Chiefs for the fourth time in five years. Now, both the team and its starting running back head into 2025 under immense pressure to get the Bills over the finish line.
Online sports betting providers certainly feel that they are up to the task. The latest of Bovada's sport betting odds currently price Buffalo as a +700 joint-second favorite to lift the Lombardi for the first time ever next term, level with the Baltimore Ravens and narrowly behind the champion Eagles. If they are to do exactly that, then Cook's contributions will be crucial.
His versatility as a runner and receiver makes him essential to the Bills’ offensive ecosystem. With Josh Allen as quarterback, the team has the tools to contend. But can Cook elevate his game at critical moments? The stakes are clear. For Cook and the Bills, anything less than a Super Bowl berth will feel like a step backward.
D’Andre Swift
Few running backs had a tougher go of it in 2024 than D’Andre Swift. The Chicago Bears sputtered last season, stumbling to a paltry 3-14 record and ranking among the NFL’s least productive offenses. That came even though the Windy City outfit selected Caleb Williams first overall in last year's draft and provided him with a worthy primary target in the form of ninth overall Rome Odunze. As such, there were high hopes both with the Soldier Field faithful and with Swift himself, who made the move from the Philadelphia Eagles, hoping to be part of something special.
Pressure in 2025 for the running back is twofold. It’s not just about personal redemption; it’s about helping drag the Bears out of irrelevance. Chicago must improve significantly, especially within the NFC North, where the likes of Detroit and Green Bay are pulling clear of the pack. Doubts linger about whether the Bears made the right moves to build around quarterback Williams rather than selecting the man that was selected directly after him, Jayden Daniels.
Back at Georgia, Swift dazzled with his explosiveness, racking up 1,000+ yard seasons and dazzling highlight plays. If he can channel that same athletic dynamism, while finding chemistry with Williams and the Chi-Town offensive line, he has the potential to reshape his narrative. But the margin for error is slim.
Brock Bowers
Few rookie seasons were more emphatic in 2024 than Brock Bowers’ debut campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders. The former college phenom lit up opposing defenses, showcasing the skillset that made him a nightmare during his time in Athens. Now under a revamped setup, with a new cast of teammates including starting quarterback Geno Smith and running back Ashton Jeanty, Bowers faces an exciting but pressure-packed sophomore campaign.
Bowers heads into 2025 with expectations to elevate his already outstanding level of play. Being one of the few bright spots on last year’s struggling Raiders roster, he’s now seen as a leader and centerpiece as the franchise aims to contend in a competitive AFC West. With Smith and Jeanty leading the way as well as the powerhouse Maxx Crosby on defense, there is plenty of hope that the Sin City side can return to prominence in 2025.