The Georgia Bulldogs have been a factory for NFL talent in the Kirby Smart era. But even before their two-time national championship-winning head coach, the Dawgs had their players at the top of the NFL drafts. One of those just received some good news as the Associated Press rolled out its All-Pro Team honors.

On Sunday, Los Angeles Rams QB and Georgia alum Matthew Stafford earned the NFL All-Pro Team honor. He received a total of 31 first-place votes after becoming the first QB in the NFL history to cross the 4,707-yard milestone. With that, he recorded 46 touchdowns, leading his team to a 12-5 record. With the latest feat, Stafford has earned the first All-Pro honor of his career, marking a significant milestone.

“That’s amazing,” Stafford said. “I did not see that coming. Played a lot of years. A lot of respect for this game. A lot of respect for the other guys who do what I do. It’s not an easy thing to do. It means a lot.”

The journey so far has been no easy task. Pre-season saw him struggle with an aggravated disc, requiring him to receive an epidural to help recover. Despite those pains, he opened the season against the Houston Texans. In Week 16, he sustained an injury to the ribs against the Seattle Seahawks. Yet, coming through the adversity, Stafford led his team into the playoffs.

While the fan base is relishing in their QB’s glory, NFL legends have also expressed their admiration regarding the 37-year-old signal caller’s achievements. Tom Brady penned an encouraging note after Stafford made NFL history.

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“I just see Matthew Stafford as a Hall of Fame-level quarterback that has played his best season of football,” he shared on Fox Sports.

A former No. 1 overall Draft (2009) pick, he began his NFL career with the Detroit Lions, spending nearly a decade with the franchise. In 2021, he finally made a leap to the Los Angeles Rams, and that move was worth every penny.

In his first season with the Rams, he took the franchise to a Super Bowl win against the Cincinnati Bengals. That achievement alone was enough for the franchise to retain him next season. Celebrating his efforts, the 37-year-old signal caller received a four-year $160 million contract, locking him in for the future. So far, he has taken the Rams to their fourth playoff run in the last five seasons.

While his NFL career showcases his impressive talents, his tenure at Athens was equally impressive. During his three-year tenure at Georgia, he started all three seasons, leading to a 30-9 record and three bowl wins. He concluded his college career with 7,731 yards and 51 touchdowns.

Now, earning his latest honor, Matthew Stafford has become the second person in league history (in his 17th season) to win a first-team All-Pro honor after Kicker Gary Anderson.

George Pickens turns sour after being snubbed from first-team All-Pro honor

Besides Matthew Stafford, Dallas Cowboys’ WR and Georgia alum George Pickens was expected to make it to the All-Pro selections. He made a huge splash after totaling 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. However, after the official list rolled out, Pickens made it to the second-team honors, which earned a bitter reaction from him.

He shared it on social media, resharing the post with a sarcastic caption. “[Second] team,” Pickens wrote on Instagram stories. “…popularity contest?”

While the Monday blues set in too early for him, he remains a cherished figure in Athens. During his three-year college career under head coach Kirby Smart, he completed 1,347 yards for 14 touchdowns. He was further part of Georgia’s 2021 national championship win. He began his NFL journey after the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him as the No. 52 overall pick.

While Pickens’ first-round disappointment lingers, Matthew Stafford’s NFL success remains a point of pride at Georgia.