John FitzPatrick gets opportunity to stay at home, play for Atlanta Falcons

Former Georgia tight end John FitzPatrick hasn’t had to go far to play football his entire career. The Atlanta, Ga. native and Marist (Ga.) product made the short trip to Athens for his collegiate career at the University of Georgia. And after four years there, he’ll once again be making a short venture to continue his career, this time to the Atlanta Falcons facility in Flowery Branch, Ga.

“It means the world,” FitzPatrick said. “I had been sitting around all day there. I was down with my family, and I went upstairs back up to my room for the last hour, just kind of waiting on something. So yeah, their call meant the world. I didn’t really know what to expect. I had heard a ton of different outlooks for what was going to happen today from different people. Whatever was going to happen, I was ready and I’m excited.”

“The opportunity to play in front of your home state like I did at Georgia meant the world, and now doing it in the NFL means even more,” he added. “Growing up, everybody gravitates towards them in this incredible city. Being able to do this in front of so many friends and family, it’s going to be incredible.”

FitzPatrick’s selection was a historic one for Georgia. It gave the Bulldogs 15 players picked in the 2022 NFL Draft, a record for the modern seven-round draft topping the previous record of 14 from Ohio State (2004) and LSU (2020). Furthermore, Georgia has now had a tight end selected in each of the last four drafts (Isaac Nauta, Charlie Woerner, Tre McKitty and FitzPatrick), the only program to ever accomplish that feat.

With that history of tight end success, FitzPatrick is no stranger to having to compete to get on the field. That’ll be the case in the pros too with former Florida standout and the No. 4 overall pick in last year’s draft Kyle Pitts in the room already as well as Anthony Firkser, a free agent addition this offseason.

“I know it’s not just 11 personnel,” FitzPatrick said. “They run some 12, they run some 13, and I know I can step in right away and fill that role to advance the run game, drive that needle and also be an all-around tight end, stretching the field in the pass game as well.”

“I think Coach Hartley and Coach Smart prepared me so well for that,” he added. “I take pride in special teams and that was one of the focal points of our team, of our meetings every single day. I think that’s why we were so successful so I’m excited to contribute in any aspect of the game, whether that’s 12 personnel, 13 personnel. I hope to be on all special teams units, and I’m excited for that opportunity as well.”

While he’s moving on to the next level, FitzPatrick won’t quickly forget the impact Georgia has had on his career and the relationships he built there, including a teammate who will be headed to the Falcons alongside him in Justin Shaffer.

“I saw Shaffer, I was over the moon to see Shaffer get drafted,” FitzPatrick said. “Shaffer and I have a great relationship. I think having a strong relationship with your o-line is really important. You’re working with them all the time in the run game. I was pulling right behind him when he was kicking out outside linebackers, and I’m excited to do that with him the next few years.”

“It means a lot,” he added, speaking about Georgia’s historic draft class. “Coming in with the guys back in 2018, with Jamaree (Salyer), with Shaffer, all these guys, working hard and finally getting over that hump and winning that National Championship and then seeing all the success. No one was really worried about individual accolades, we all bought into one common goal and now all these individual accolades are coming to fruition.”

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