Dez Bryant facts for kids
Bryant with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015
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| No. 88 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 4, 1988 Galveston Island, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Lufkin (Lufkin, Texas) | ||||||||
| College: | Oklahoma State (2007–2009) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Desmond Demond Bryant (born November 4, 1988) is a former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. During his sophomore year in 2008, he was recognized as an All-American. He later missed most of his junior season due to a rule violation.
The Dallas Cowboys picked him in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. With the Cowboys, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times and was named an All-Pro in 2014. After playing for the Cowboys for eight seasons, Bryant joined the New Orleans Saints in 2018. However, he suffered a serious injury just two days after signing. After a year away from the NFL, Bryant signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. There, he mostly played as a backup player.
Early life
Desmond Demond Bryant was born on Galveston Island in Texas on November 4, 1988. His family later moved to Lufkin, Texas, where he went to Lufkin High School. He played high school football for the Panthers team.
As a junior, he caught 48 passes for 1,025 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bryant helped Lufkin achieve a 14–1 record, reaching the state semifinals. In his senior year, he had 53 catches for 1,207 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was also chosen for the All-State team. After the season, Bryant played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl. He was named an All-American by Parade and SuperPrep magazines.
Bryant also competed in track and field. He was one of the best in the state at the triple jump, with a top jump of 14.17 meters. He was also good at hurdling, with personal bests in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles. He was part of the 4 × 100-meter and 4 × 200-meter relay teams.
Recruiting
Experts like Rivals.com considered Bryant a top football recruit. He was ranked as the ninth-best wide receiver prospect in 2007. Many major college programs wanted him, especially those in the Big 12 Conference. Bryant visited Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech. He decided to play for the Oklahoma State Cowboys on January 29, 2007.
College career
Bryant attended Oklahoma State University from 2007 to 2009. He was a key player for the Oklahoma State Cowboys football team, coached by Mike Gundy.
2007 season
On September 1, Bryant played his first college game against Georgia. He caught one pass for seven yards. On September 22, he scored his first college touchdown against Texas Tech. He had five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown in that game.
Later, on October 20, he scored two touchdowns against Kansas State. On November 10, he set a school record for a freshman with 155 receiving yards in a game against Kansas. In the 2007 Insight Bowl, he had nine catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. As a freshman in 2007, he finished with 43 catches for 622 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games.
2008 season
The 2008 season was outstanding for Bryant. On September 6, he had nine catches for 236 yards and three touchdowns against Houston. He also scored a touchdown on a punt return. On September 27, he had six catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns against Troy. In the next game, against Texas A&M, he had 106 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and another punt return touchdown.
On October 18, he caught 11 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns against Baylor. On November 1, he had nine catches for 171 yards and four touchdowns against Iowa State. He finished the 2008 season with 87 catches for 1,480 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns. He also returned two punts for touchdowns.
2009 season
Bryant was unable to play for most of the 2009 season. This was due to a rule violation related to his interactions with former NFL player Deion Sanders. Before this, he was considered one of the best wide receivers in college football and a possible candidate for the Heisman Trophy. In the three games he played, he had 323 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, and a punt return touchdown.
College statistics
| Season | GP | Receiving | Punt Returns | Kick Returns | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2007 | 12 | 43 | 622 | 14.5 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 13 | 87 | 1,480 | 17.0 | 19 | 17 | 305 | 17.9 | 2 | 4 | 100 | 25.0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 17 | 323 | 19.0 | 4 | 3 | 111 | 37.0 | 1 | 2 | 43 | 21.5 | 0 |
| Career | 28 | 147 | 2,425 | 16.5 | 29 | 22 | 431 | 19.6 | 3 | 6 | 143 | 23.8 | 0 |
College awards and honors
- 2007 Second-team freshman All-America (Rivals)
- 2008 First-team All-America by AFCA-Coaches, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly, Sports Illustrated
Professional career
NFL draft
On November 5, 2009, Bryant announced he would enter the 2010 NFL draft. Many believed he was the best wide receiver available that year. The Dallas Cowboys traded up in the draft to pick him. They moved from the 27th spot to the 24th spot to select Bryant.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
225 lb (102 kg) |
34 in (0.86 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
4.52 s | 1.53 s | 2.51 s | 4.46 s | 7.10 s | 38 in (0.97 m) |
11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) |
14 reps | 16 |
| All values from Oklahoma State Pro Day | ||||||||||||
Dallas Cowboys
2010 season
The Cowboys signed Bryant to a five-year contract on July 22, 2010. It was announced that he would wear jersey number 88, the same number worn by Cowboys legends Michael Irvin and Drew Pearson.
On September 12, Bryant played his first NFL game against the Washington Redskins. He caught eight passes for 56 yards, setting a team record for most catches in a player's first game. In the next game, he scored a touchdown on a punt return. On October 17, Bryant caught his first NFL touchdown pass from Tony Romo.
In a game against the New York Giants, Bryant caught two touchdowns and returned a punt 93 yards for another touchdown. This made him the youngest wide receiver in Cowboys history to score three touchdowns in one game. On November 15, he had his first game with over 100 receiving yards as a rookie. Later, he suffered a fractured ankle and had surgery, ending his season early.
Bryant finished his rookie season with 45 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns. He was also the first Cowboys rookie to have multiple punt return touchdowns in one season since 1993. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team for 2010.
2011 season
With another player leaving the team, Bryant became a starting wide receiver alongside Miles Austin.
In the 2011 season, Bryant had 63 catches for 928 yards and nine touchdowns. He was second on the team in all these categories and also helped with punt returns.
2012 season
Bryant started the 2012 season with four catches for 85 yards against the New York Giants. In Week 4, he had eight catches for 105 yards. In Week 6, he caught his first two touchdowns of the season and set a career-high with 13 catches against the Baltimore Ravens.
He had 12 catches for a career-high 145 yards against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11. In Week 12, he had eight catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Against the New Orleans Saints, he had his best game yet with nine catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He tied a team record by scoring a touchdown in seven straight games. His 224 receiving yards were the fourth most in team history for a single game at that time.
Bryant finished the 2012 season with 92 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. He set a team record with four games in a single season where he scored multiple touchdowns. He played through a finger injury and a back injury during the season. His fellow players ranked him 35th among the top NFL players of 2013.
2013 season
In Week 2, Bryant had nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 5, he had six catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a high-scoring game against the Denver Broncos. On October 20, he had eight catches for 110 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In a close game against the Detroit Lions, he had 72 receiving yards and two touchdowns. In Week 15, he had a season-high 11 catches for 153 yards and one touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys finished the season with an 8–8 record and missed the playoffs.
Bryant started all 16 games and finished the season with 93 catches and 13 touchdowns, both career highs, along with 1,233 receiving yards. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. He was ranked 25th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.
2014 season
This was the final year of Bryant's first contract, and he had his most successful season. He caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns. His 16 touchdowns led the NFL and broke Terrell Owens' team record of 15. Because of his great performance, he was selected for his second straight Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro.
In Week 12, Bryant had a fantastic quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars, catching six passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns in just the second quarter. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 15. The Cowboys finished the season with a 12–4 record, tying for the most wins in the NFL that year.
The Cowboys made the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Bryant played in his first playoff game against the Detroit Lions. The Cowboys won 24–20. In the next game, the Divisional Round, the Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers 26–21. A key play involved a controversial call where a 31-yard catch by Bryant was overturned, ruled as incomplete. Bryant believed it was a catch. NFL officials later explained the rule about maintaining control of the ball when falling to the ground. He was ranked 15th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.
2015 season
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On July 15, 2015, Bryant and the Cowboys agreed to a new five-year contract worth $70 million.
During the first game of the season, Bryant left with a foot injury that required surgery. He returned in Week 8 but struggled. In Week 9, he caught his first touchdown of the season and had five catches for 104 yards. He was limited to nine games in 2015, finishing with 31 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns. He had foot and ankle surgeries in January 2016. He was ranked 51st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.
2016 season
Bryant started the 2016 season with a new starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, because Tony Romo was injured. After a quiet first game, he had seven catches for 102 yards in Week 2 against the Washington Redskins. Bryant then suffered a hairline fracture in his knee in Week 3, causing him to miss some games. He returned in Week 8. Overall, he finished the season with 50 catches for 796 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns in 13 games.
The Cowboys finished with a 13–3 record and won their division. Bryant had a strong performance in the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers, with nine catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns, but the Cowboys lost. Bryant was named to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career. He was ranked 60th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
2017 season
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Bryant started the 2017 season by scoring a touchdown in four of the first six games. In Week 9, he sprained his ankle but returned to play.
On November 30, Bryant passed Bob Hayes to become the Cowboys' all-time leader in receiving touchdowns. He played all 16 games in 2017, recording 69 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns. The Cowboys finished with a 9–7 record and missed the playoffs.
The Cowboys released Bryant on April 13, 2018, after eight seasons with the team.
New Orleans Saints
On November 7, 2018, Bryant signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. However, just two days later, he tore his Achilles tendon during team practice. This serious injury ended his season before he could play a single game with the Saints.
2019
In October 2019, Bryant said he would train and get healthy during the 2019 season. He stated he did not plan to retire and wanted to return to play football, but he did not sign with a team that year.
Baltimore Ravens
On October 27, 2020, Bryant signed with the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad. He was moved to the main roster for some games in November. Against the Tennessee Titans, Bryant made his first catch since the 2017 season. He finished that game with four catches for 28 yards. He was promoted to the active roster on November 28.
Before a game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, Bryant was unable to play due to health protocols. In Week 15, he caught an 11-yard touchdown pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars, his first touchdown since 2017. The next week, he caught another touchdown pass. He finished the 2020 regular season with six catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | |||
| 2010 | DAL | 12 | 2 | 45 | 561 | 12.5 | 46 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 508 | 18.8 | 93T | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2011 | DAL | 15 | 13 | 63 | 928 | 14.7 | 50T | 9 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 158 | 8.8 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2012 | DAL | 16 | 14 | 92 | 1,382 | 15.0 | 85T | 12 | 2 | −5 | −2.5 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 66 | 5.5 | 44 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2013 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 93 | 1,233 | 13.3 | 79 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | |
| 2014 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 88 | 1,320 | 15.0 | 68T | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | DAL | 9 | 9 | 31 | 401 | 12.9 | 51 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | DAL | 13 | 13 | 50 | 796 | 15.9 | 56 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
| 2017 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 69 | 838 | 12.1 | 50 | 6 | 1 | −4 | −4.0 | −4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
| 2018 | NO | 0 | 0 | did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | BAL | 6 | 0 | 6 | 47 | 7.8 | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Career | 119 | 99 | 537 | 7,506 | 14.0 | 85T | 75 | 6 | −3 | −0.5 | 6 | 0 | 57 | 732 | 12.8 | 93T | 2 | 14 | 7 | ||
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2014 | DAL | 2 | 2 | 7 | 86 | 14.3 | 43 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | DAL | 1 | 1 | 9 | 132 | 14.7 | 40T | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | NO | 0 | 0 | did not play due to injury | ||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | BAL | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 5 | 3 | 16 | 218 | 14.5 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Cowboys franchise records
- Most receiving touchdowns, career: 73
- Most games with at least two receiving touchdowns, single season: (4) (twice, in 2012 and 2014)
- Most games with at least two receiving touchdowns, career: (15) (tied with Bob Hayes)
- Consecutive games with a receiving touchdown: (7) (tied with Terrell Owens, Bob Hayes, and Frank Clarke)
Personal life
Dez Bryant lived in eight different homes while attending Lufkin High School. He has two sons, Zayne and Dez Jr.
See also
In Spanish: Dez Bryant para niños
- List of Dallas Cowboys first-round draft picks
- List of National Football League annual receiving touchdowns leaders
- List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders
- List of NFL 1,000-yard receiving trios
- List of Oklahoma State Cowboys in the NFL draft
