Georgia Southern Professional Athletes

Georgia Southern Alumni Report: NFL Week, Nov. 1–7

Two Eagles made noise in the NFL this week — one by rewriting a franchise record book, the other by turning down outside suitors to stay put.

Tyler Bass Rewrites Bills History

Tyler Bass is now alone at the top of one of the most reliable kicker records in Buffalo Bills history. The Georgia Southern product connected on his 19th consecutive successful field goal during Sunday's blowout win over the Baltimore Ravens (36–10), surpassing Rian Lindell's franchise mark that had stood since 2007.

Nineteen straight. No misses. In an era where kickers are increasingly treated as interchangeable parts, Bass has quietly built one of the most consistent streaks in the entire league. The record-breaker came in a game that was never particularly close, but Bass's milestone stands on its own — a testament to the kind of reliability that franchise kickers are built on.

Bass is now squarely in the conversation among the NFL's elite specialists, and for Eagles fans who watched him develop in Statesboro, this week was a reminder of exactly what Georgia Southern sent to the pros.

Kindle Vildor Stays in New England

The week wasn't without turbulence for another Eagle. Cornerback Kindle Vildor was cut from the Patriots' 53-man roster as part of a flurry of New England roster moves that included activating offensive tackle Marcus Bryant from injured reserve. It looked, briefly, like Vildor might be on his way out of Foxborough entirely.

It didn't happen. Despite drawing interest from other NFL teams looking to add him to their practice squads, Vildor chose to stay with the Patriots, re-signing to New England's practice squad. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, other clubs came calling — Vildor just wasn't interested in taking the calls.

The loyalty is notable. Practice squad spots aren't guaranteed futures, but Vildor's decision to stay suggests he sees a path back to the active roster in New England rather than starting over elsewhere. For a veteran defensive back navigating the roster bubble, that's a calculated bet on familiarity and fit.

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Two Georgia Southern alumni. Two different kinds of wins this week — one measured in record books, one measured in resolve. Bass's consecutive field-goal streak gives Eagles fans a highlight worth tracking all season. Vildor's situation remains fluid, but he's still in the building.

Georgia Southern Alumni Report: NFL Week 6 (Oct. 18–24, 2026)

For a program that has quietly built one of the more underrated pipelines to the NFL, Georgia Southern's most compelling story this week didn't come from a skill position — it came off the tee.

Tyler Bass Is No Longer a Liability — He's a Weapon

There was a time when Tyler Bass's name in Buffalo meant nervous sideline glances and second-guessing. That time is over.

The Georgia Southern product went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals in Week 6 as the Bills edged the Raiders 33–30 on Sunday, continuing what has become one of the more quietly dominant individual seasons at the kicker position in the NFL. Bass, now wearing No. 16 after swapping numbers when receiver D.J. Moore arrived in the offseason, has been flawless through the first six weeks of 2026 — precisely the kind of reliability a Bills team with playoff aspirations cannot afford to take for granted.

What makes Bass's resurgence particularly striking is the context. Critics had long flagged kicking as a structural weakness in Buffalo's otherwise formidable roster construction. That narrative is dead. Bass hasn't just survived the skepticism; he's inverted it. Per Sports Illustrated, he has now become "a weapon for the Bills" — language rarely applied to a kicker, and language that reflects just how central reliable special teams play has been to Buffalo's early-season success.

An Elite Unit Around Him

Bass doesn't operate in a vacuum. Buffalo's special teams as a whole have been among the most productive in the league in 2026, with punter Tommy Doman Jr., returners Ray Davis and Greg Dortch, and long snapper Joe Andreessen all operating at high levels. The Bills used their bye week to take stock of how this remade unit has performed — and the reviews are strong across the board.

For Bass specifically, the bye couldn't have come at a better time. He enters the back half of the season with momentum, a clean percentage, and a fanbase that has finally — fully — gotten off his back.

Kindle Vildor Suits Up for New England

Elsewhere in the Georgia Southern NFL diaspora, cornerback Kindle Vildor was active for the Patriots in their Thursday night matchup against the Bears (Oct. 22), a 30–24 loss for New England. Vildor, a veteran presence in a Patriots secondary still in transition, has provided depth in a rebuilding year for the franchise.

No other Georgia Southern alumni generated statistical highlights during the Week 6 window, though the Eagles Nation can take genuine pride in how broadly its former players are distributed across the league — from Jerick McKinnon in Kansas City to Younghoe Koo in New York.

The Bigger Picture

Bass's 2026 arc is the kind of redemption story that travels well beyond the stat sheet. A kicker written off, now indispensable. A Georgia Southern alumnus at the center of a legitimate Super Bowl contender's special teams identity. For Eagles fans watching from Statesboro, it's a satisfying watch — and the season is only half over.