ATHENS — Kirby Smart has made an addition to his stable of off-field analysts, as former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker is now working as an analyst.

Thacker, whose bio on X now includes the @Georgiafootball tag, worked at Georgia Tech from 2019 through 2023. He was the defensive coordinator under both Geoff Collins and Brent Key.

Georgia Tech moved on from Thacker following the 2023 season, as he had been stripped of his defensive coordinator duties during the season. Thacker is from the state of Georgia, as he was born in Cartersville, Ga., and played collegiately at Furman.

This is not the first time Smart has hired a rival’s former coordinator onto his staff, as former Clemson offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter currently works as an analyst for the Bulldogs. The coaches directory on Georgiadogs.com does not include Thacker, but Rusty Mansell of DawgsHQ reports that Thacker has been working for Georgia for the past couple of weeks.

Given Thacker’s background with defensive backs, he will likely assist Will Muschamp in an analyst role. Muschamp was formerly the safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator, before moving into an analyst role this offseason in order to spend more time with his family. Travaris Robinson was the on-field replacement for Muschamp, coming over from Alabama.

“Our ability to hire T-Rob was tremendous,” Smart said this spring. “He’s got tons of value in our SEC footprint. Recruiting value, football knowledge, leader of men. Anywhere he’s coached, his players really, really trust him and enjoy him. He’s been nothing but an asset for us in terms of knowledge, but also in terms of relationships.

“We’ll get a great benefit from T-Rob coming, and we’ll get a huge benefit from Coach Muschamp remaining part of our program to help us.”

The addition of Thacker will only add more intrigue to the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry, one Key has helped fan this offseason.

“There’s nothing I hate more in the world. It’s probably the only thing I actually hate,” Key said earlier this year at a Georgia Tech Alumni event. “When I say hate, like, truly despise everything about it. I really do.”

Georgia and Georgia Tech will play on Friday, Nov. 29. It will be the last game of the regular season for the Bulldogs.