REPORT: Despite Everything, Rams Quarterback Stetson Bennett Never Received a Degree from Georgia
June 26, 2025 – Athens, GA
In a revelation that’s raising eyebrows across the college football world, it has been confirmed that Los Angeles Rams quarterback and former Georgia Bulldogs legend Stetson Bennett never officially earned his degree from the University of Georgia—despite being enrolled for six academic years and leading the program to two national championships.
University records obtained through an internal audit show that Bennett, who walked with teammates during Georgia’s 2023 commencement ceremony, did not complete the necessary credits to graduate with a degree in Economics, the major he declared following his return to UGA in 2021.
The news comes as a surprise to fans and former teammates, many of whom assumed Bennett, now 27, had quietly wrapped up his academic career before declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. Instead, according to multiple university officials who requested anonymity, Bennett’s academic record includes several incomplete courses and extended absences tied to football responsibilities, media appearances, and personal matters during his final two years on campus.
“It’s not uncommon for student-athletes to take longer to graduate,” said one UGA academic advisor familiar with Bennett’s transcript. “But in Stetson’s case, there was always a sense that he would circle back and finish. That just hasn’t happened—yet.”
Bennett’s situation is not without precedent. Many elite college athletes who leave school early for professional opportunities eventually return to complete their degrees. Tim Tebow, Vince Young, and Peyton Manning each finished coursework after their NFL careers began or concluded. However, what makes Bennett’s case different is the assumption—both by fans and media—that he had already done so.
The quarterback’s dramatic rise from walk-on to national champion, dubbed “The Mailman” for his underdog resilience, is among the most celebrated in college football history. Bennett’s back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 made him a legend in Athens. But questions about his off-field maturity and long-term focus followed him into the NFL, where he missed much of his rookie season with the Rams due to placement on the non-football injury list for undisclosed personal reasons.
In response to the report, neither Bennett nor his representatives have issued a formal statement. A spokesperson for the Rams declined to comment on the academic matter, citing player privacy. However, a UGA athletic department source confirmed that Bennett remains eligible to return and complete his coursework at any time.
“We support all of our student-athletes in their academic and personal development, regardless of their path,” said the university in a brief statement.
Whether this revelation alters Bennett’s legacy remains to be seen. In a sport that often prioritizes on-field success over academic finish lines, fans seem largely unfazed. Still, it adds a complicated footnote to the story of one of college football’s most unlikely heroes.
For now, Stetson Bennett remains a championship quarterback, a professional athlete—and, technically, a few credits short of being a college graduate.
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