Chidera Uzo-Diribe is heading to the NFL, and he’s doing it with a résumé that speaks volumes about his rise through the coaching ranks. After four impactful seasons in Athens, the 33-year-old assistant coach is joining the Dallas Cowboys as their new outside linebackers coach-bringing with him a national championship, three SEC titles, and the kind of player development track record that turns heads in both college and pro circles.
Uzo-Diribe took to social media Wednesday night to share a heartfelt farewell to Georgia, reflecting on what the program, the community, and head coach Kirby Smart have meant to him and his family. In a message that was equal parts gratitude and reflection, he made it clear that his time in Athens wasn’t just a career stop-it was a life-changer.
“This place has done more for me and my family than we can ever imagine,” Uzo-Diribe wrote. “We are forever thankful for this place, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
And it’s easy to see why. Since arriving at Georgia before the 2022 season, Uzo-Diribe has been part of a dominant stretch for the Bulldogs.
Georgia piled up 51 wins during his tenure, claiming three SEC championships and a national title in the process. But beyond the hardware, Uzo-Diribe’s fingerprints are all over the Bulldogs’ defensive success-especially at the edge.
He’s helped develop a deep and talented outside linebacker room, coaching future NFL players like Nolan Smith, Robert Beal, and Chaz Chambliss. Perhaps even more telling of his coaching chops, he turned three-star recruit Quintavius Johnson into a starting JACK linebacker, a position that demands both physical tools and high football IQ. That kind of developmental success doesn’t go unnoticed.
On the recruiting trail, Uzo-Diribe also made his mark. During his time at Georgia, the Bulldogs signed one five-star and six four-star edge rushers. That 2025 class alone featured five-star standout Isaiah Gibson and four-stars Darren Ikinnagbon and Chase Linton-high-ceiling talents who’ll now be molded by someone else in Athens.
Georgia’s coaching staff has been remarkably stable in recent years, which makes Uzo-Diribe’s departure notable. He becomes the first on-field assistant to make the jump to the NFL since Bryan McClendon left in February 2024.
For Uzo-Diribe, this move is also a return to familiar territory. He’s headed back to Texas, a state he knows well from previous coaching stops.
Before joining Georgia, he had a brief stint at TCU, following head coach Sonny Dykes over from SMU. In fact, he was on the verge of closing on a house in Fort Worth when Kirby Smart called with the offer that changed everything.
“Right after the interview, we all knew as a staff that’s the guy we needed to hire,” Georgia co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said at the time. “Extremely bright, great personality, great with our players, and has some good ideas for doing things a different way. You need that kind of energy and innovation on your staff.”
That blend of personality, football IQ, and player connection has been a constant throughout Uzo-Diribe’s coaching journey. Before his time at SMU, he spent two seasons coaching outside linebackers at Kansas, earning a promotion in 2020 after starting as a quality control coach in 2019. He’s climbed the coaching ladder the hard way-earning trust, building relationships, and producing results at every stop.
Now, he’s taking that same energy and expertise to the NFL, joining a Cowboys organization that’s looking to reload and refine on the defensive side of the ball. And if his track record at Georgia is any indication, Dallas is getting more than just a position coach-they’re getting a difference-maker.
As Uzo-Diribe closed his message with a Bible verse-Jeremiah 29:11, a nod to faith and future-it was clear he’s not just leaving Georgia with wins and accolades. He’s leaving with roots, relationships, and a legacy that will be felt in Athens for years to come.
Go Dawgs forever, indeed.