Kirby Smart led the Georgia Bulldogs to the 2021 College Football Playoff national championship.
Smart, a former Alabama defensive backs coach, became Georgia’s head coach in 2016. The 2021 Bulldogs finished 14–1 and reached the playoff despite losing the SEC Championship Game to Alabama. They rebounded by defeating Michigan 34–11 in the Orange Bowl semifinal, then beat Alabama 33–18 in the national championship game in Indianapolis.
The victory gave Georgia its first national championship since 1980 and made Smart the first Georgia head coach to win the College Football Playoff title. A common mix-up is Nick Saban, who coached Alabama in both the SEC Championship and the final—and had previously employed Smart on his staff. Smart later guided Georgia to another national title after the 2022 season, when the Bulldogs finished 15–0.