Bernard Edwards (American football) facts for kids

Bernard Edwards, born on February 24, 1969, is a former American football player. He played for eight seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL). His teams included the Miami Hooters/Florida Bobcats and the Tampa Bay Storm.

Edwards started as a wide receiver and quarterback at Fort Myers High School in Fort Myers, Florida. He then played college football at Ohio State University. In 1991, during his senior year, he was the team's top receiver. After college, he signed with the Phoenix Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) in 1992. However, he was released before the season began.

He joined the AFL in 1994 and played until 2001. For his first two seasons, he was an offensive specialist. Later, he became a wide receiver and linebacker. In 1994, he set an AFL record for receiving touchdowns in one game with six. He was named first-team All-Arena in 1995 while playing for the Miami Hooters. In 1999, he was ranked among Southwest Florida's top athletes by The News-Press. Later, in 2007, Edwards coached the Fort Myers Tarpons in the National Indoor Football League.

Early Life and High School Sports

Bernard Edwards was born in Fort Myers, Florida, on February 24, 1969. He was a talented athlete in high school. He played high school football, baseball, and basketball at Fort Myers High School.

In 1985, as a junior in football, he caught 42 passes. He gained 549 yards and scored six touchdowns as a wide receiver. The next year, in 1986, he played quarterback. He threw for 949 yards and nine touchdowns. This earned him second-team all-state honors. He scored three touchdowns in his final high school football game.

Edwards also excelled in basketball. He earned second-team all-state recognition in that sport too. In one game during his senior year, he scored a career-high 42 points. He graduated from high school in 1987. He first planned to play college football for the Miami Hurricanes. However, he later decided to go to Ohio State University.

College Football Career

Edwards played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was a wide receiver for the team. In 1987, he was redshirted, meaning he practiced but did not play in games. He then played for four years, from 1988 to 1991.

As a freshman in 1988, he played in 11 games and started one. He caught 11 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown. In 1989, he played in eight games, catching 10 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown. He was benched for a short time that season because he wasn't blocking enough.

In 1990, as a junior, he played in 12 games. He had 12 receptions for 179 yards. Edwards thought about not returning for his senior year. This was due to a difficult relationship with his offensive coordinator. However, the coordinator left after the 1990 season.

Edwards became a regular starter in his senior year, 1991. He played in 12 games and started 10 of them. He caught 25 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns. He led Ohio State in receiving yards and touchdowns that year. He also tied for the most receptions on the team.

During his college career, he played in 43 games in total, starting 11. He first studied criminology at Ohio State. He later changed his major to sociology and earned a degree in that field.

Professional Football Journey

Joining the NFL

Before the 1992 NFL draft, Edwards attended the NFL Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.67 seconds. He also had a vertical jump of 30.5 inches. Football expert Mel Kiper Jr. rated him as the 38th best receiver in the draft. Kiper noted Edwards' "size and athleticism." However, he also mentioned that Edwards' "questionable speed" might limit his chances in the NFL.

Edwards was not chosen in the draft. But he signed with the Phoenix Cardinals in May 1992. During a training camp, he made a great leaping catch over a top Cardinals player. However, the Cardinals released him on August 18, 1992.

Playing in the Arena Football League

In November 1993, Edwards signed with the Miami Hooters of the Arena Football League (AFL). The AFL had special "ironman rules." This meant players usually played both offense and defense. However, teams could have one offensive and one defensive "specialist." These specialists played only on one side of the ball. Edwards was an offensive specialist for the Hooters.

On July 15, 1994, he set an AFL record. He caught six receiving touchdowns in one game. The Hooters won that game 66–52 against the Arizona Rattlers. In 1994, he played in 11 games. He caught 69 passes for 842 yards and 13 touchdowns. The team finished with a 5–7 record.

In 1995, Edwards played in all 12 games for Miami. He had 86 receptions for 1,124 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Arena for his excellent performance. Despite his efforts, the Hooters finished the year with a 1–11 record.

Becoming a Florida Bobcat

On December 9, 1995, it was announced that the Hooters would move. They became the Florida Bobcats in West Palm Beach, Florida. Edwards helped introduce the team's new uniforms. In 1996, the new coach, Jim Jensen, changed Edwards' position. He moved from offensive specialist to wide receiver and linebacker. This was the first time Edwards played defense in his football career. He said the coach wanted him to use more of his skills.

In 1996, Edwards played in ten games for the Bobcats. He had 59 catches for 736 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also made 17 solo tackles and nine assisted tackles on defense. He had one interception and broke up four passes. He missed some games due to injuries, including an ankle injury.

On June 10, 1997, he had a career-high 11 receptions. He gained 137 yards and scored four touchdowns. This helped the Bobcats win 44–40 against the New York CityHawks. In 1997, he played in all 14 games. He recorded 73 receptions for 920 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also had 13 solo tackles, 13 assisted tackles, and one fumble recovery. The Bobcats finished the 1997 season with a 4–10 record.

On May 23, 1998, the Bobcats (0–4) played the undefeated (4–0) ArenaBowl champions, the Tampa Bay Storm. With only six seconds left and the score tied at 54, Edwards made a one-handed touchdown catch. This helped the Bobcats win 61–54. In that game, Edwards caught eight passes for 89 yards and four touchdowns. He earned AFL Player of the Week honors.

In 1998, Edwards played in 13 games. He had 58 receptions for 685 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also made seven solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, and two interceptions. In 1999, he played in ten games. He caught 30 passes for 326 yards and five touchdowns. He also had five solo tackles, three assisted tackles, and one fumble recovery.

In October 1999, The News-Press ranked Edwards 39th on their list of top athletes from Southwest Florida. In 2000, Edwards played in the first three games. He then missed the rest of the season due to a knee injury. That year, he had three receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown. He also had two interceptions that he returned for two touchdowns. The Bobcats finished with a 3–11 record each year from 1998 to 2000.

Joining the Tampa Bay Storm

On October 31, 2000, Edwards signed with the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL. In the first game of the 2001 season, he played against his former team, the Florida Bobcats. He caught three touchdown passes and made a career-high 12 tackles. He earned Ironman of the Game honors for his performance.

He played in all 14 games for the Storm in 2001. He had 53 catches for 643 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also made a career-high 21 solo tackles and 46 assisted tackles. He had one fumble recovery and one interception. The Storm finished the regular season with a 10–4 record. This was Edwards' first winning season in the AFL. He missed the team's playoff game due to an injury. Edwards retired from the AFL after the 2001 season.

Life After Playing Football

On January 29, 1995, Edwards appeared in a McDonald's commercial. It aired during Super Bowl XXIX. He played a quarterback and receiver in the ad.

From 1998 to 2000, Edwards worked at Cypress Lake High School. He was a law teacher, basketball coach, and track coach. He sometimes missed the first few games of the AFL season because of his teaching job.

In 2008, reports said that Edwards owned and ran two businesses. He had a courier service and a beauty salon. His son, Bernard Edwards Jr., played college basketball at Jacksonville and Nova Southeastern.

Coaching Career

In 2002, Edwards was the receivers coach for the Florida Firecats of the af2 league. He left the team after the fourth game to work on other business interests.

In 2007, Edwards became the head coach of the Fort Myers Tarpons. This team was part of the National Indoor Football League. The Tarpons played only two games before the team stopped operating. They finished with a 2–0 record. In 2008, Edwards was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Florida Stingrays. This team played in the American Indoor Football Association.