Gary Brightwell

Gary Brightwell Jr.
No. 44 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1999-02-28) February 28, 1999 (age 25)
Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)
College:Arizona (2017–2020)
NFL draft:2021 / round: 6 / pick: 196
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Rushing attempts:41
Rushing yards:164
Rushing touchdowns:1
Receptions:11
Receiving yards:92
Return yards:555
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Gary Brightwell Jr. (born February 28, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He has previously played in the NFL for the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Arizona.

Early life

Gary graduated in 2017 from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. His senior season he served as team captain and was First-team all-conference and first-team All-State MIAA. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry as a senior rushing for 519 yards and eight touchdowns on 78 carries.[1]

College career

In his time at Arizona, Brightwell rushed for over 1,300 yards and had nine rushing touchdowns.[2]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+3⁄4 in
(1.80 m) 		218 lb
(99 kg) 		31 in
(0.79 m) 		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.58 s 1.62 s 2.62 s 4.48 s 7.51 s 34.5 in
(0.88 m)		 9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		 17 reps
All values from Pro Day[3][4][5]

New York Giants

Brightwell was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round, 196th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.[6] On May 13, 2021, Brightwell officially signed with the Giants.[7] On December 30, 2021, Brightwell was placed on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury.[8]

Brightwell had his first career rushing touchdown in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers in the 27–22 victory.[9] In the 2022 season, Brightwell appeared in all 17 games. He totaled 31 carries for 141 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.[10]

Brightwell entered the 2023 season third on the running back depth chart. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 7 and was placed on injured reserve on October 28, 2023.[11] He was waived with injury designation on May 30, 2024.[12]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On August 3, 2024, Brightwell signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[13] He was waived on August 27.[14]

Cleveland Browns

On August 29, 2024, Brightwell was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.[15] He was promoted to the active roster on September 21.[16] Brightwell was waived by the Browns on October 1, and re-signed to the practice squad.[17] He was released on October 29.[18]

Cincinnati Bengals

On November 11, 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Brightwell to their practice squad.[19]

Personal life

Brightwell's father was murdered at a gas station when Brightwell was five months old, his older sister was killed in a car crash when he was a senior in high school and his grandmother who taught him how to play football died just weeks before the NFL draft.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Gary Brightwell – Football". University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Gary Brightwell College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Gary Brightwell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "2021 Draft Scout Gary Brightwell, Arizona NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "Gary Brightwell 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "Giants draft Arizona RB Gary Brightwell in Rd 6". Giants.com. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  7. ^ Ortenberg, Andrew (May 13, 2021). "Giants Sign Second-Round DE Azeez Ojulari". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  8. ^ Eisen, Michael (December 30, 2021). "Notebook: Kenny Golladay looks to finish strong; Nate Solder activated". Giants.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  9. ^ Eisen, Michael (October 10, 2022). "Giants 'don't flinch' in 4–1 start to season". Giants.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Gary Brightwell 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "Giants sign WR Gunner Olszewski to active roster; RB Gary Brightwell to IR". Giants.com. October 28, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  12. ^ "Giants sign DB Elijah Riley; RB Gary Brightwell waived/injured". Giants.com. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  13. ^ "Roster Moves: Jaguars Sign RB Gary Brightwell and TE Chris Myarick, and Waive 2". Jaguars.com. August 3, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  14. ^ "Roster Moves: Jacksonville Jaguars Make The Following Roster Moves Hours Before 2024 Roster Deadline". Jaguars.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  15. ^ "Browns sign RB D'Onta Foreman, add five to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 29, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  16. ^ "Browns sign RB Gary Brightwell and TE Blake Whiteheart to active roster". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 21, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "Browns waive RB Gary Brightwell". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "Cleveland Browns 2024 Roster Transactions". ESPN. December 30, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  19. ^ Mehta, Nikhil (November 12, 2024). "NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/11/24". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  20. ^ Dunleavy, Ryan (May 13, 2021). "Giants rookie Gary Brightwell overcame family tragedies to achieve NFL dream". New York Post. Retrieved May 13, 2023.