Giovani Bernard facts for kids
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Bernard with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | November 22, 1991 West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) | ||||||||||||
| College: | North Carolina (2010–2012) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2013 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Giovani Govan Bernard (born November 22, 1991) is a former professional football running back. He played for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Bernard played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Cincinnati Bengals chose him in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. He spent eight seasons with the Bengals. After leaving the Bengals in 2020, he played two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before he retired.
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Early Life and High School Football
Giovani Bernard was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. His parents, who came from Haiti, owned a dry cleaning business. Giovani started playing football in a local league called the Boca Jets.
He played football at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Some of his teammates there also became famous football players, like Lamarcus Joyner and James White. Experts ranked him as one of the best running backs in Florida and the United States. Giovani's older brother, Yvenson Bernard, also played college football as a running back.
Many colleges wanted Giovani to play for them. He first thought about going to Notre Dame. However, he decided to play for the University of North Carolina.
College Football Career
Bernard joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and played for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team from 2010 to 2012. Early in his college career, he injured his right knee. This meant he had to sit out the 2010 season to recover.
After recovering, Bernard became the main running back for the Tar Heels in the 2011 season. He was the first North Carolina running back since 1984 to rush for over 100 yards in five games in a row. He rushed for 155 yards in one game against Georgia Tech. Bernard was also added to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the best college football player each year. He rushed for 1,222 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in 2011. He was the top freshman running back in the country that season.
In 2012, Bernard's performance improved even more. He gained more rushing yards per game and also started returning punts. In a thrilling game against NC State on October 27, 2012, Bernard returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown. This amazing play broke a tie and won the game for his team in the final seconds. He led his team in scoring for the second year in a row. College coaches voted him to the All-ACC first-team. He also won the CFPA Punt Returner Trophy for his punt returns. In 2012, he rushed for 1,228 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had 490 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
Professional Football Journey
After his successful college career, Giovani Bernard decided to enter the 2013 NFL draft. Many experts believed he would be chosen in the first or second round.
Joining the Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals picked Bernard in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was the 37th player chosen overall. The Bengals had received this draft pick in a trade for quarterback Carson Palmer. Bernard signed a four-year contract worth $5.25 million with the Bengals.
Rookie Season (2013)
Bernard started his first NFL season as a backup running back. He quickly showed his skills and became a key player. In his second game, he scored two touchdowns in a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Later that season, he scored two more touchdowns in a game against the Miami Dolphins. One of his runs, a 35-yard touchdown, was called one of the best runs of the year.
He finished his rookie season with 695 rushing yards and 514 receiving yards. He scored a total of eight touchdowns. The Bengals made the playoffs that year. Bernard was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team, which honors the best new players in the league.
Becoming a Starter (2014)
In 2014, Bernard became the Bengals' starting running back. He had his first game with over 100 rushing yards against the Carolina Panthers. He missed a few games due to an injury. He finished the season with 680 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He also had 349 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Sharing the Load (2015)
In 2015, Bernard shared playing time with another running back, Jeremy Hill. In one game, he rushed for 123 yards against the San Diego Chargers. He also helped the Bengals make a big comeback win against the Seattle Seahawks. Bernard ended the season with 730 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 49 passes for 472 receiving yards.
Injury and Recovery (2016)
Before the 2016 season, Bernard signed a new three-year contract with the Bengals. He had a great game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching nine passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. However, in November 2016, Bernard suffered a serious knee injury (a torn ACL) during a game. This injury ended his season early. He finished with 337 rushing yards and two touchdowns, plus 336 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Return to Play (2017-2020)
Bernard returned to play in 2017. The Bengals had drafted another running back, Joe Mixon, so Bernard's role changed. He still contributed a lot in the passing game, catching many passes. In a game against the Detroit Lions, he had 116 rushing yards and a touchdown. He finished the 2017 season with 458 rushing yards and 389 receiving yards.
In 2018 and 2019, Bernard continued to be a valuable backup to Joe Mixon. He scored three rushing touchdowns in 2018. In 2019, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Bengals.
The 2020 season was his last with the Bengals. He had a strong year, scoring both rushing and receiving touchdowns in multiple games. He finished with 416 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, along with 355 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. The Bengals released Bernard in April 2021.
Playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bernard then signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April 2021. He played 12 games in 2021, catching 23 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown in a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
He re-signed with the Buccaneers in April 2022. He played in eight games that season before an ankle injury placed him on injured reserve. He was activated later in the season.
Giovani Bernard announced his retirement from professional football in April 2023.
NFL Career Highlights
Giovani Bernard played 135 games in his NFL career. He rushed for a total of 3,783 yards and scored 22 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 367 passes for 2,989 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. He was known for his versatility, being able to run the ball, catch passes, and return kicks.
Personal Life
Giovani Bernard is Catholic. He has two sons.
