Robert Fitzgerald earned another major preseason honor after landing on the Bednarik Award Watch List following a breakout 2025 season for Northwestern.
Northwestern safety Robert Fitzgerald continues to collect preseason recognition after being named to the 2026 Bednarik Award Watch List.
The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year, making Fitzgerald’s inclusion one of the most significant preseason honors a defensive player can receive.
The award is named after Chuck Bednarik, a College Football Hall of Famer who starred at Penn and later enjoyed a successful professional career.
Fitzgerald earned the recognition after putting together a breakout 2025 campaign that established him as one of the leaders of Northwestern’s defense.
The Dallas, Texas, native started all 13 games and finished with 115 total tackles, including 70 solo stops, along with 6.0 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Oct 18, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Robert Fitzgerlad (6) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Northwestern Medicine Field and Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesHe earned second-team All-Big Ten honors while ranking second in the conference and 25th nationally in total tackles.
His 70 solo tackles also led the Big Ten and tied for the second-most in the country. Fitzgerald became the first Northwestern defensive back since at least 1995 to record more than 110 tackles in a season.
Now, Fitzgerald enters the 2026 season as one of the most important returning pieces on a Northwestern defense that will have to replace several key contributors from last year’s unit.
The Wildcats lost defensive standouts this offseason, putting even more responsibility on returning leaders like Fitzgerald. His experience and production could be especially valuable as defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle looks to maintain the identity that made Northwestern’s defense one of the team’s biggest strengths last season.
Fitzgerald has already shown he can be a difference-maker against Big Ten competition. His ability to make plays from the secondary while consistently finding the football will be critical as Northwestern looks to remain one of the conference’s toughest defenses.
The Bednarik recognition gives Fitzgerald another opportunity to prove that his 2025 breakout was only the beginning.
If he can build on last season’s production and help Northwestern's defense remain among the Big Ten’s best, Fitzgerald could find himself in the national award conversation well beyond the preseason.
For the Wildcats, having a proven leader like Fitzgerald anchoring the defense could be one of the biggest advantages of the 2026 season.
