Earnest Byner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Earnest Byner

Byner with the Cleveland Browns in 1988
No. 44, 21, 20
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1962-09-15) September 15, 1962 (age 62) Milledgeville, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:	Baldwin (Milledgeville)
College:	East Carolina
NFL Draft:	1984 / Round: 10 / Pick: 280
Career history
As player:
Cleveland Browns (1984–1988) Washington Redskins (1989–1993) Cleveland Browns (1994–1995) Baltimore Ravens (1996–1997)
As coach:
Washington Redskins (2004–2007) Running backs coach Tennessee Titans (2008–2009) Running backs coach Jacksonville Jaguars (2010–2011) Running backs coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012–2013) Running backs coach
As executive:
Baltimore Ravens (1998–2003) Director of player development
Career highlights and awards
As a player: Super Bowl champion (XXVI) Second-team All-Pro (1991) 2× Pro Bowl (1990, 1991) Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor Cleveland Browns Legends 80 Greatest Redskins As an executive: Super Bowl champion (XXXV)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 8,261 Average: 3.9 Touchdowns: 56
Player stats at PFR

Earnest Alexander Byner (born September 15, 1962) is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. After his playing career, he became a coach.

Playing Career

College Football

Earnest Byner played fullback at East Carolina University from 1980 to 1983. During his college career, he ran for over 2,000 yards. In 1998, he was honored by being added to the East Carolina Hall of Fame.

National Football League (NFL)

Byner was chosen by the Cleveland Browns in the 1984 NFL draft. He played for the Browns from 1984 to 1988, and again from 1994 to 1995. He also played for the Washington Redskins (1989–1993) and the Baltimore Ravens (1996–1997).

He played in the NFL for 14 years. Earnest Byner gained 8,261 yards by running with the ball. He also caught 512 passes for 4,605 yards. In total, he scored 72 touchdowns during his career.

Byner was known as a strong player who could run, block, and catch the ball. In Cleveland, he and Kevin Mack were a powerful duo. They both ran for over 1,000 yards in the 1985 season. Byner helped the Browns reach the AFC Championship game in 1986 and 1987.

In the 1987 AFC Championship game, the Browns were playing the Denver Broncos. Byner played a big part in helping the Browns come back from a large deficit. Near the end of the game, with the score tied, Byner was running towards the end zone. A Broncos player, Jeremiah Castille, knocked the ball out of his hands. This play became known as "The Fumble". Even with this play, Byner had a great game. He ran for 67 yards and caught seven passes for 120 yards, scoring two touchdowns.

After another season with Cleveland, Byner was traded to the Washington Redskins. In 1992, he played in Super Bowl XXVI with the Redskins. He caught a touchdown pass in the game, and the Redskins won. This gave him an NFL Championship.

Byner was chosen for the Pro Bowl two times, in 1990 and 1991. He was also named one of the "70 Greatest Redskins" in the team's history.

Life After Playing

Byner in 2019

Baltimore Ravens Front Office

After he stopped playing, Earnest Byner worked for the Baltimore Ravens. He was the director of player development from 1998 to 2003. This role helps players grow and succeed. In 2000, he was the first player to be added to the Ravens' Ring of Honor.

Coaching Career

In 2004, Byner became a running backs coach for the Washington Redskins. He coached there for four seasons.

Later, he coached running backs for the Tennessee Titans (2008–2009). He then coached for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2010–2011). His last coaching job in the NFL was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012–2013).

Images for kids

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  Byner with the Cleveland Browns in 1988

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  Earnest Byner in 2019