ATHENS, Ga. — The Southeastern Conference on Thursday named former Bulldog head coach Mark Richt to its 2026 Football Legends Class, joining one honoree from each of the conference 16 member institutions for December championship weekend events.
Richt coached the Bulldogs from 2001-15 after arriving determined to lift a program that had gone two decades without an SEC title. In 15 seasons he delivered two SEC championships (2002, 2005), five Eastern Division titles and a share of another, compiling a 145-51 record.
He was named SEC Coach of the Year in both title seasons and became one of only seven coaches to win two league championships in his first five years, also posting four straight 10-win campaigns from 2002-05.
Off the field, 301 Bulldogs earned degrees under his watch, and he received the 2013 Stallings Award for humanitarian service. A noted quarterback developer, Richt guided David Greene, D.J. Shockley, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Murray while sending 77 players to the NFL Draft.
A 2023 College Football Hall of Famer, Richt will be honored with the class at the SEC Football Weekend of Champions December 4-5 in Atlanta, including the SEC Legends Celebration on Friday, December 4 at the College Football Hall of Fame. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 5.
The conference said this year class includes Heisman Trophy winners, national champions, All-Americans, All-SEC selections and NFL standouts, among them Alabama coach Nick Saban, Texas running back Ricky Williams and Oklahoma running back Billy Sims.
