Roster turnover and coaching changes have been the theme of the offseason for Georgia football, as head coach Kirby Smart will have to find a replacement for another position on his staff, this time on the defensive side. 

Assistant coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe is expected to join the Dallas Cowboys staff for the upcoming NFL season. Uzo-Diribe came to Athens prior to the 2022 season, joining Smart’s staff as the Bulldogs’ outside linebackers coach. During his four-year stretch at Georgia, Uzo-Diribe was pivotal in the development of Georgia’s pass rush, although the steep decline in the 2025 season was evident as the Bulldogs struggled to sack opposing quarterbacks.

Uzo-Diribe helped Georgia win three SEC championships and one national championship in 2022. At just 33 years old, Uzo-Diribe is widely considered one of the most promising young coaches in all of football, gaining interest from many different programs and professional teams throughout his time at Georgia.

It is unknown who Smart will choose to fill the vacant role, with this move coming weeks after another coaching change, as offensive line coach Stacey Searels moved into an offensive analyst role, with assistant offensive line coach Phil Rauscher being promoted to that open spot.