A Georgia Bulldogs long snapper survived the grind of final cuts and has made an NFL roster. Former Georgia long snapper Beau Gardner has made the Chicago Bears' active roster, according to a team announcement. He won the competition against Luke Elkin.
Gardner will be an integral part of the special teams unit alongside kicker Cairo Santos and punter Tory Taylor. Santos has been the Bears kicker since 2020, while Taylor has been one of the best punters in the league.
Gardner was also a part of a great special teams unit in Georgia, where he transferred in 2024 after three seasons with the UCLA Bruins. Kicker Peyton Woodring, still on the team, made the All-SEC second team in 2024 and 2025, while Brett Thorson, the punter for the Minnesota Vikings,
was a first-team All-American and winner of the Ray Guy Award in 2025, along with being All-ACC second team in 2024 and 2025.
Gardner himself was a great special teamer in Georgia. He was first-team All-SEC in 2024 and 2025, first-team All-American in 2025, and even won the Patrick Mannelly Award in 2025 for being the best long snapper in the nation. He consistently delivered great snaps. The Bears signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2026 as a reward, and he has made the team.
The Bears have very little former Georgia Bulldogs on their team, with just running back D'Andre Swiftjoining Gardner. They used to have linebacker Roquan Smith on their team before he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. Gardner is not the only undrafted Georgia specialist to make an NFL team. Brett Thorson made the Vikings as well.
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia All-American specialist makes the Chicago Bears' roster
