Wildcats’ Robert Fitzgerald Receives Bednarik Award Watch List Honors

Robert Firzgerald is a difference maker for Northwestern’s defense

Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Robert Fitzgerald (6) and linebacker Braydon Brus (33) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Northwestern Wildcats football team is proud that one of their own got recognition. Robert Fitzgerald lands on the Bednarik Award Watch List, presented to the nation’s best defensive player.

Tackling Machine 💥

Robert Fitzgerald lands on the Bednarik Award Watch List, presented to the nation’s best defensive player. pic.twitter.com/PtRfbopZfq

— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) August 21, 2026

The redshirt senior from Dallas, Texas, loves the game of football. It’s no surprise because Texas lives, breathes, and dies football. Fitzgerald is the ultimate gamer. He’s one of the best defensive backs in the Big Ten conference.

Quarterbacks can’t underestimate him every time he’s on the field. Fitzgerald reads the offense and has his eyes all over the place. His impact on the Northwestern team is huge. He’s the first defensive back since 1995 to record over 110 tackles. 

Any games where Fitzgerald can collect more than 10 tackles or reach 10 tackles in a single game, then it’s rare for the Wildcats to come out losing. Fitzgerald can be a real pest for those who are on the offensive line on the opposite side. 

One of the best performances of his collegiate career was when he recorded 10 total tackles against Oregon. To do that against a talented program like Oregon speaks volumes. Fitzgerald had other great performances against UCLA, Penn State, and Purdue. In these games, Fitzgerald would either have more than 5 tackles or find a way to break up passes. 

Fitzgerald weighs over 200 pounds. He’s a big guy and athletic. What he brings to the table is unparalleled. He’s coming off the best season of his collegiate career, and he’s determined to take it to another level for the upcoming season. This recognition will add plenty of fuel to the fire. 

The Wildcats are going to need more than Fitzgerald’s amazing plays on defense to have a much more impactful season. There’s no doubt he’s going to lead by example. The reality is that who else will step up to the plate on defense and join Fitzgerald to dominate the game every Saturday? 

The challenge for Fitzgerald and the rest of the Wildcats defense is not to allow more than 25 points each game. That’s demanding a lot from the defense, but this is the Big Ten conference. The Wildcats have to make tough teams like Indiana and Ohio State not get too comfortable on the field. 

Strong communication is vital in sports. If the defensive coordinator and players on defense communicate well and trust in each other, then their defense will be better than last season. Let’s see if Fitzgerald can tack up 120 tackles this season. He had 115 last season. 

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