During his college career, running back Sony Michel teamed up with backfield mate and close friend Nick Chubb at Georgia to form one of the more prolific running back duos in recent memory. While stability has eluded the former Georgia star in recent years, on Tuesday it was announced that he will be returning to a familiar NFL franchise.
The former Georgia running back has inked a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams, who he won Super Bowl LVI with to cap the 2021 NFL season. Following that Super Bowl victory, Michel was not re-signed by the Rams, but ultimately once again spent the majority of the 2022 season in Los Angeles, this time playing for the Chargers.
After signing with the Rams, Michel will now vie for carries with fellow backs Cam Akers, Ronnie Rivers, Kyren Williams, and rookie Zach Evans.
Michel was a fixture in the Georgia offense during his four-year run in Athens from 2014-2017. Sharing time with Nick Chubb, the Miami, Florida native posted 1,000-yard rushing season in both 2015 and 2017. Following the 2016 season, Michel, along with teammates Nick Chubb; Lorenzo Carter; and Davin Bellamy, selected to return for his senior season, giving new Head Coach Kirby Smart’s program a shot in the arm. As a senior, Michel had a career year, helping lead the Bulldogs to an SEC Championship and Rose Bowl victory while rushing for a career-high 1,227 yards and 16 touchdowns in the process. While the Bulldogs ultimately fell to Alabama in overtime in the 2018 CFP National Championship Game in Atlanta, Michel played a prominent role in laying the groundwork that helped launch the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.
Following the 2017 college football season, the former Rose Bowl MVP was selected by the New England Patriots with the 31st overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. As a rookie, Michel rushed for a career-high 931 yards and 6 touchdowns including 94 yards and a touchdown - ironically - in the Patriots Super Bowl LIII victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Michel spent three seasons with the Patriots before being traded to the Rams prior to the 2021 season. In the final year of his rookie contract, the former Bulldog rushed for 845 yards and 4 touchdowns and helped lead the Rams to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
After failing to come to terms with the Rams following the 2021 season, Michel signed with the Miami Dolphins before ultimately being released in August prior to the start of the 2022 season. Two days after his Miami release, Michel found himself back in Los Angeles playing for the Chargers. He rushed for 106 yards on 36 carries for the Chargers before being released in December.
Michel joins a Rams roster that continues to stockpile former Georgia players. With the addition of Michel, Los Angeles now features six former Bulldogs on its roster including quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Stetson Bennett, corner Derion Kendrick, safety Richard LeCounte, and offensive lineman Warren McClendon.
Michel brings a veteran presence and strong leadership skills to a Rams running back room that features four other running backs under the age of 24. His familiarity with the Rams offense and NFL experience will also give him an opportunity to contribute on the field as the Rams look to get back into Super Bowl contention.
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