Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach
- Email:
- falconrecruit@bgsu.edu
- Phone:
- 419-372-7083
| Coach George | |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| College | Ohio State (2001) - BS Northwestern (2009) - MBA |
| Family | Wife, Tamara "Taj", sons Eriq and Jaire |
| Coaching History | |
| 2021-24 | Tennessee State, Head Coach |
| 2025-pres. | Bowling Green, Head Coach |
| Bowl Games/Postseason Coached | |
| 2024 | FCS Playoffs - First Round |
| Career Head Coaching Record | |
| 2021 | Tennessee State, 5-6 |
| 2022 | Tennessee State, 4-7 |
| 2023 | Tennessee State, 6-5 |
| 2024 | Tennessee State, 9-4 |
| 2025 | Bowling Green, 4-8 |
| Total | Four Years (28-30) |
From the turf of Ohio Stadium to the Super Bowl stage, the bright lights of Broadway, and now the sidelines of Bowling Green, Eddie George’s journey is one of unrelenting excellence, fearless transformation, and enduring impact. Named the 21st head coach in Bowling Green State University football history on March 9, 2025, George brings a legacy forged through athletic greatness, intellectual discipline and artistic exploration.
George brings a clear and passionate vision to his leadership at Bowling Green, instilling a culture he calls GUTS—an acronym that defines the foundation of how he expects his team to play. Under his guidance, the Falcons are expected to compete with Gumption, showing fearlessness and initiative in every situation. They must play with Understanding, recognizing the importance of preparation, discipline, and football IQ. His teams will show relentless Tenacity, never backing down regardless of the challenge. And above all, George demands a willingness to Sacrifice—to put the team above self and embrace the hard work required for collective success. This GUTS-driven mindset is central to the identity and performance of George’s Bowling Green program.
A titan of the gridiron, George first rose to national prominence at The Ohio State University, where he captured the 1995 Heisman Trophy behind a breathtaking season—1,927 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns, and over 2,300 all-purpose yards. That same year, he earned the Doak Walker, Maxwell, and Walter Camp Awards, and was a unanimous All-American, forever etching his name in Buckeye lore. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011, George’s name remains synonymous with brilliance and consistency.
Drafted in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft, George became the embodiment of durability and production for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, never missing a start in eight seasons. A four-time Pro Bowler, NFL Rookie of the Year, and the engine behind the Titans’ run to Super Bowl XXXIV, George amassed 10,441 rushing yards and 78 total touchdowns. Alongside Jim Brown, he stands as one of only two backs in NFL history to eclipse 10,000 rushing yards without missing a single start.
Yet, Eddie George’s story is not merely one of athletic conquest—it is a masterclass in reinvention. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Ohio State and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, George built a thriving post-football life. He is the founder of EDGE Group, a cutting-edge landscape architecture and design firm, and the managing partner of The Edward George Wealth Management Group, where he helps clients build lasting legacies. Through the Tamara and Edward George Legacy Fund, he champions youth empowerment, education, and community development.
In the realm of entertainment, George carved a unique niche on stage and screen. He brought charisma and command to the Broadway stage as Billy Flynn in Chicago, tackled dramatic material in Topdog/Underdog, and appeared in hit series like NCIS: Los Angeles, BET’s The Game, and NBC’s American Dream Builders. His natural presence extended to the classroom, where he has served as an adjunct professor at both Ohio State and Vanderbilt, teaching The Business of Professional Sports.
In 2025, George led Bowling Green to a signature victory in the Battle of I-75, earning his first rivalry win over Toledo in dramatic fashion. The Falcons overcame a 21-0 deficit, scoring 28 unanswered points to secure a 28-23 victory, marking the program’s first-ever comeback from a deficit of 20 or more points. The win also made George the 10th head coach in program history to win his first game in the rivalry, while serving as the 27th head coaching victory of his career—fittingly aligning with the iconic number he made famous on the gridiron.
George’s debut season at BGSU also featured standout individual performances that reinforced Bowling Green’s player development tradition. Tight end Jyrin Johnson earned first-team All-MAC honors, continuing the Falcons’ dominance at the position with a first-team selection in three consecutive seasons and five of the six years. Johnson led all MAC tight ends in receptions (37), receiving yards (466), yards per catch (12.6), yards after catch (271), contested catches (8), broken tackles (9), and first downs (23), while ranking among the top 20 nationally in each category among tight ends during the regular season.
On the defensive side, linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron was named first-team All-MAC after a historic season in which he became the only player in the nation during the regular season to record 100+ tackles and 15+ tackles for loss, finishing with 119 tackles and 17.5 TFLs. Meanwhile, Cameron Pettaway earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors after leading the nation and setting a program record with 33 yards per kick return. His first collegiate touch—a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown—came on the opening play of the season, electrifying the start of the Eddie George era.
George was also part of an FBS first in 2025, as Bowling Green featured the sons of both its head coach and director of athletics, Derek van der Merwe, on the same roster. It marked the first time in FBS history that an active head football coach and an active athletics director each had a son playing on the team simultaneously. Eriq George and Ian van der Merwe both contributed along the defensive line, with Eriq joining the program from Tennessee State in 2025 and Ian both appeared in the season opener before an injury sidelined van der Merwe.
George’s coaching journey began at Tennessee State University, where he inherited a struggling program and transformed it into a contender. In just two seasons, he led TSU to back-to-back winning campaigns in 2023 and 2024, including a share of the Big South–OVC Championship, a No. 19 national ranking, and the program’s first postseason appearance since 2013. His efforts earned him Big South–OVC Coach of the Year honors, along with a runner-up finish for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award. He developed talent across the board, from 3,000-yard passers to All-Americans, proving his impact extended well beyond the huddle.
Now at the helm of Bowling Green, George has a vision rooted in discipline, development and belief. He is one of only five Heisman Trophy winners to become an FBS head coach, joining legends such as Steve Spurrier and Pat Sullivan.
A proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., George is deeply grounded in family. He is married to Tamara “Taj” George, a Grammy-nominated member of the R&B group SWV. Together, they are raising a legacy through their two sons—Eriq, who starred on his father’s TSU defense, and Jaire, a former Vanderbilt running back.
Adding another unique dimension to his role at BGSU, George’s son Eriq joined the Falcons in 2025 as a defensive end after leading Tennessee State with 11.5 tackles for loss in 2024 and earning second-team All-Big South–OVC honors. The father-son pairing on the same collegiate team is a rare occurrence.
Eddie George is more than a coach. He is a renaissance man—a Heisman hero, an NFL ironman, a scholar, a businessman, an artist and a mentor. With every chapter, he continues to redefine what it means to lead with integrity, live with intention and inspire across arenas.
“Bowling Green is a special place. We loved our time there, and to this day, I always check the game scores to see how the Falcons perform each weekend. The passion and tradition of BGSU football are unmatched, and I can’t think of a better ambassador for the Orange and Brown than Eddie George as the next head football coach. His track record of success—both on and off the field—along with his strong work ethic, leadership, and ability to inspire others make him an ideal fit. His experience as a player, coach, and mentor will bring invaluable knowledge and energy to the program, helping to continue to elevate BGSU football.” - Urban Meyer
“Eddie George has been a winner in all that he has attempted in his storied career. His passion for young people and the game of football will serve the Bowling Green Falcon Family very well. I am so happy for Bowling Green and the Great State of Ohio!” - Jim Tressel
