48 Facts About Giovani Bernard

Giovani Govan Bernard was born on November 22,1991 and is a former American football running back.

Giovani Bernard played college football at North Carolina, and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, spending 8 seasons with the team.

Giovani Bernard played in the National Football League for 2 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Giovani Bernard began playing football for the local tackle football league, the Boca Jets.

Giovani Bernard played football at St Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was teammates with Florida State safety Lamarcus Joyner and New England Patriots running back James White.

Giovani Bernard is the younger brother of former Oregon State running back Yvenson Bernard.

Giovani Bernard was recruited by many schools and first committed to Notre Dame, but ultimately decided to play for the University of North Carolina.

Giovani Bernard enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and played for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team from 2010 to 2012.

Giovani Bernard recovered from the injury and became the starting tailback for the Tar Heels in the 2011 college football season.

Giovani Bernard became the first North Carolina running back to rush for at least 100 yards in five straight games since Ethan Horton in 1984.

Giovani Bernard's season-high came against Georgia Tech on September 24,2011, rushing for 155 yards.

In mid-October 2011, Giovani Bernard was added to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the best player in college football.

Giovani Bernard had 326 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games.

Giovani Bernard was the first running back to eclipse the 1,000-yards plateau at North Carolina since Jonathan Linton did it in 1997.

Giovani Bernard was the top freshman running back in the nation in yards per game that season.

Giovani Bernard returned punts for the first time in his college career.

On October 27,2012, Giovani Bernard returned a punt 74 yards against NC State in the last 30 seconds of the game to break the tie and win the game.

Giovani Bernard led Carolina in scoring for the second year in a row and averaged 198.1 all-purpose yards per game, third in the country behind two receivers.

Giovani Bernard won the CFPA Punt Returner Trophy for the 2012 season.

On December 14,2012, Giovani Bernard announced that he was entering the 2013 NFL Draft.

Giovani Bernard was projected by the majority of analysts and scouts to be selected anywhere from the first to third round.

Giovani Bernard was ranked the fourth best running back and 67th best prospect by NFLDraftScout.

Giovani Bernard was invited to the NFL Combine and completed all the drills and the entire workout.

Giovani Bernard was satisfied with his performance and decided to only participate in positional drills at North Carolina's Pro Day.

Giovani Bernard was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round with the 37th overall pick.

Giovani Bernard began his rookie season serving as a back-up to veteran Benjarvus Green-Ellis and began transitioning to a change-of-pace back throughout the season.

Giovani Bernard made his professional regular season debut in the Bengals' season opener against the Chicago Bears.

Giovani Bernard finished his first career game with four carries for 22 rushing yards and an eight-yard reception.

On October 31,2013, Giovani Bernard scored two touchdowns on nine carries in an overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Giovani Bernard finished his rookie season second on the team in rushing, receptions, and total yards, while ranking third in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Giovani Bernard finished his second season with a total of 168 carries, 680 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 43 catches, 349 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns in 13 games and nine starts.

Giovani Bernard entered training camp competing with Jeremy Hill to be the Cincinnati Bengals' starting running back.

Giovani Bernard was named the backup to Hill to begin the regular season.

Giovani Bernard finished the regular season with a total of 154 rushing attempts for 730 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while recording 49 receptions for 472 receiving yards in 16 games and one start.

Giovani Bernard fumbled and lost the ball and did not return to the game and finished with six carries for 28 yards and two catches for two yards.

On June 8,2016, Giovani Bernard signed a three-year, $15.5 million contract extension with the Bengals.

On September 18,2016, Giovani Bernard caught a career-high nine passes for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, his second 100-plus receiving yard game and his sixth receiving touchdown of his career.

On October 23,2016, Giovani Bernard ran for a season-high 80 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns.

Giovani Bernard finished the 2016 season with 92 carries for 337 rushing yards and two touchdowns while recording 39 receptions for 336 yards and a touchdown in ten games and two starts.

Giovani Bernard did not contribute as much on the ground but did have some solid production in the receiving game.

Giovani Bernard started the 2018 season as the backup to Mixon.

Giovani Bernard finished the 2020 season with 124 carries for 416 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 47 receptions for 355 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Giovani Bernard signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 14,2021.

Giovani Bernard suffered a hip injury in Week 14 and was placed on injured reserve on December 14,2021.

Giovani Bernard finished the 2021 season with eight carries for 58 rushing yards to go along with 23 receptions for 123 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Giovani Bernard was activated on January 15,2022, for the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Giovani Bernard suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 of the 2022 season and was placed on injured reserve on September 21,2022.

Giovani Bernard announced his retirement via social media on April 28,2023.