Fansided

10 best Georgia alumni in NFL history

By Russell S. Baxter

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Former Denver Broncos running back and hall of fame inductee Terrell Davis stands on the field with his family during a ceremony to recognize the former player before a game between the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 19, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Former Denver Broncos running back and hall of fame inductee Terrell Davis stands on the field with his family during a ceremony to recognize the former player before a game between the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 19, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO – SEPTEMBER 22: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game on September 22, 2002 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49er’s won 20-10. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – SEPTEMBER 22: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game on September 22, 2002 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49er’s won 20-10. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /

3. Champ Bailey

He was the seventh overall pick in 1999 by Washington and he made his presence felt with that franchise. In five seasons with the club, defensive back Champ Bailey was a ball hawk. He picked off 18 passes and scooped up five fumbles. He played in a total of 80 regular-season contests and was credited with 81 pass breakups, including a league-high 24 in 2002. Bailey earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his final four seasons with the team.

He wasn’t long for D.C. In 2004, the organization sent the standout defender (franchise tagged by Washington) and a second-round pick that year to Denver for star running back Clinton Portis. There would be a seven-year, $63 million contract extension for the talented defender (via Spotrac).

Bailey would spend the next 10 seasons in the Mile High City. Eight of those resulted in Pro Bowl invitations while the former Georgia standout earned All-Pro honors three straight years from 2004-06. With the Broncos, there were 34 more interceptions (3 returned for touchdowns) and an astounding 122 passes defensed.

His final season in the league was in 2013 when he played in only five games. He signed with the New Orleans Saints a year later but failed his physical and retired. Bailey is a very-deserved member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was enshrined in Canton in 2019.

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