Kirby Smart’s Path to Georgia Came Down to One Decommitment

Kirby Smart joins Shannon Spake on Sons & Daughters for a personal conversation about the moments, people, and decisions that shaped his life long before he became the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs. Kirby opens up about growing up as the son of a high school football coach, the influence of his father, his late offer to play football at Georgia, meeting Peyton Manning on a recruiting visit, getting cut by the Indianapolis Colts, and the identity crisis that followed when his playing career ended. He also reflects on working for Bobby Bowden and Nick Saban, the phone call from Will Muschamp that helped launch his coaching career, why he turned down the Georgia defensive coordinator job in 2010, and the role Mal Moore played in keeping him at Alabama. This episode also reveals a more personal side of Kirby Smart as he talks about parenting, his twins leaving for college, insecurity, humility, and the lessons he now shares with Georgia players about life after football.