Dalton grad McGowan, Northwest’s Mack cut by Miami Dolphins as NFL teams trim rosters

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Throughout the NFL preseason, two football players from Whitfield County harbored hopes of playing together on the same NFL team.

Dalton High School graduate Kyric McGowan and Northwest Whitfield grad Isaiah Mack both suited up for the Miami Dolphins during preseason games, but, as NFL teams made roster decisions ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline to cut rosters down to 53 players, both Mack and McGowan were left looking for a new chance.

Mack, a defensive tackle, and McGowan, a wide receiver, were both cut by the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday.

McGowan was waived, and Mack released. If McGowan clears waivers without being claimed by another NFL team, both are free to sign with a different NFL team, or they could land on the practice squad of the Dolphins or another team.

McGowan, a former Dalton Catamount standout, played college football at Northwestern and Georgia Tech before going undrafted in 2022 and signing with the Washington Commanders. McGowan was cut from the Commanders’ roster before the start of the 2022 regular season, but signed with the Commanders’ practice squad.

McGowan made appearances in two regular season games in 2022 as a call-up for the Commanders. McGowan signed a deal with the Commanders, but was injured during the preseason prior to the 2023 season, placed on injured reserve and then released. McGowan signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars for a period of six days in June, then signed with the Dolphins in July to spend training camp and the preseason with Miami.

During the preseason, McGowan totaled six catches for 33 yards and a touchdown.

For Mack, who has his number retired by Northwest Whitfield, the attempt to catch on with the Dolphins was the latest signing for Mack, who continues to stay on the radar of NFL teams despite last appearing in a regular season NFL game in 2022.

After playing at Tennessee-Chattanooga collegiately, Mack signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans. Mack played in 13 games for the Titans as a rookie, then signed on with the New England Patriots to appear in a few games in 2020. Mack appeared in two games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 and another in 2022 after being elevated from the practice squad.

Mack has spent time on the practice squads or offseason rosters for several other NFL teams. Mack was involved with the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 before signing with the Ravens, and the defensive tackle has been with the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins since.

Mack had eight total tackles and a fumble recovery in the 2024 preseason.

Mack and McGowan were both on the Commanders’ roster in the 2023 preseason too, prior to spending this preseason with the Dolphins.

As Mack and McGowan hope for a chance to sign on with another NFL team, NFL regular season rosters will feature at least two players from either Whitfield County or Murray County.

Dalton grad Jahmyr Gibbs is set for his second season in the NFL as a running back for the Detroit Lions. After being drafted in the first round in 2023, Gibbs rushed for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie.

Former North Murray star Ladd McConkey is set to suit up for the Los Angeles Chargers after being selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The wide receiver helped Georgia win two national championships in college.