Brandon George is highly confident in his abilities, and he believes his experiences at Pitt have prepared him for a career in the NFL.
But George is blessed with a high sense of self-awareness. After becoming a starting linebacker during the final of his six seasons at Pitt, George plans to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to ESPN.
#Chiefs are signing Fresno State WR/PR Mac Dalena and Pittsburgh LB Brandon George to undrafted free agent deals, per sources.
George was a major pro day tester -- 42.5" vertical, 4.66 40 at 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 26, 2025
And while going undrafted is less than ideal, George had an understanding of his plight going into the process and is approaching his pro career thusly.
“I am not going to be the first linebacker off the board. I am not delusional to that,” George said during Pitt’s pro day last month. “But I feel like the ability to play special teams that I have… been playing here at Pittsburgh definitely helps my case. Because some teams think that I am a guy who even though I was not drafted high I am a guy who will stick because I can play special teams, all four (core) phases.”
The 6-foot-3, 246-pound George played extensively on the punt return and coverage, kickoff return and coverage and even the placekick teams over his 65 games for Pitt since 2019. No player has ever appeared in more games for the program.
Defensively, George in 2024 amassed 80 tackles (29 solo, 5½ for loss), two sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery. The 28 reps he produced on the bench press and 42-inch vertical jump he performed during Pitt’s pro day were each better than any linebacker did at the combine.
When the Philadelphia Eagles were on the clock at No. 31 overall Thursday and took all-SEC Jihaad Campbell of Alabama — the first linebacker selected — George presumably wasn’t under any consideration.
And that’s OK with him. George is secure in what kind of NFL career he can carve out.
“Comparisons are the thief of joy,” George said. “But at the end of the day, you’re always going to be compared to someone else — someone who is bigger, faster, stronger. It’s a game, and there are 100 different body types that can do the position work that we do. So I am just taking it day by day, doing what I’ve got to do and looking inward.”