Beau Gardner, the former Georgia Bulldogs long snapper, just locked down a spot on the Chicago Bears’ active roster. This isn’t some small deal either, he survived the brutal gauntlet of final cuts, winning out against Luke Elkin for the job.
A New Anchor for Chicago’s Special Teams
Gardner steps right into a vital role, rounding out Chicago’s special teams alongside kicker Cairo Santos and punter Tory Taylor. Santos has been kicking for the Bears since 2020, so he’s a known quantity. Taylor, on the other hand, has made a name for himself as one of the best punters in the league. Gardner’s job is crucial, delivering those consistently great snaps to keep the unit firing on all cylinders.
From All-American to Undrafted NFL Star
This guy’s college resume is stacked. Gardner transferred to Georgia in 2024 after three seasons with the UCLA Bruins, and he immediately made an impact. We’re talking first-team All-SEC in both 2024 and 2025, first-team All-American in 2025, and he even snagged the Patrick Mannelly Award in 2025, recognized as the best long snapper in the entire nation. The Bears picked him up as an undrafted free agent in 2026, and clearly, that bet paid off. He’s not the only undrafted Georgia specialist crushing it; Brett Thorson, the punter, also made the Vikings’ roster after being a first-team All-American himself.
Chicago fans should be stoked; they just landed a proven, award-winning specialist who consistently delivers. This kind of talent, especially undrafted, can be a game-changer for field position and those critical clutch moments.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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