Garrison Hearst

Garrison Hearst

Hearst with Georgia in 1991
No. 23, 20
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1971-01-04) January 4, 1971 Lincolnton, Georgia
Career information
College:	Georgia
NFL draft:	1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
Career history
Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals (1993–1995) Cincinnati Bengals (1996) San Francisco 49ers (1997–1998, 2001–2003) Denver Broncos (2004)
Career highlights and awards
AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2001) 2× PFWA NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1995, 2001) 2× Pro Bowl (1998, 2001) All-Pro (1998) Consensus All-American (1992) Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Attempts: 1,831 Rushing yards: 7,966 Rushing TDs: 30 Receptions: 229 Receiving yards: 2,065 TD receptions: 9
Player stats at PFR

Gerard Garrison Hearst (born January 4, 1971) is a former running back in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of Georgia, and was recognized as an All-American. A first-round pick by the Phoenix Cardinals, he also played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos of the NFL. He ran for 1,000 yards or more in four different seasons and is one of only two NFL players to have won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award twice.

Early years

Garrison Hearst was born in Lincolnton, Georgia. He attended Lincoln County High School in Lincolnton, where he was an all-state running back and broke several records.

College career

Hearst attended the University of Georgia, and played for the Georgia Bulldogs football team from 1990 to 1992, leading the nation in touchdowns (21) and in scoring (11.5 points per game) in his junior year. During his career, he established new school and Southeastern Conference (SEC) records for points scored in a season (126), total touchdowns (21), rushing touchdowns (19), and average yards per carry (6.8)*. Hearst was a consensus All-America selection, the Doak Walker Award recipient, ESPN's ESPY Winner for Outstanding Collegiate Athlete and SEC Player of the year in 1992. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Hearst finished his college career second on the Georgia records list in rushing yardage (3,232), all-purpose yardage (3,934), and 100-yard rushing games (16); trailing only Herschel Walker. He also finished third in career rushing touchdowns (35).

Regarded as an excellent prospect, he was taken in the 1993 NFL Draft third overall by the Arizona Cardinals.

Statistics

	Rushing					Receiving
YEAR	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	NO.	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
1990	162	717	4.4	50	5	7	45	6.4	16	0
1991	153	968	6.3	69	9	16	177	11.0	24	0
1992	228	1,547	6.8	75	19	22	324	14.7	64	2
Totals	543	3,232	6.0	75	33	45	546	12.1	64	2

Professional career

In Hearst's first two seasons with the Cardinals, he was used sparingly. In 1995, however, he broke out as a pro player, rushing for 1,070 yards and earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award honors. However, after the season he was let go and joined the Cincinnati Bengals. He played there one season, gaining 847 yards, but was then picked up by the San Francisco 49ers.

Oakland Raiders last career stop.

San Francisco 49ers

Hearst's best years came with the 49ers. In his first year, 1997, he ran for 1,019 yards and four touchdowns, becoming the 49ers' first 1000-yard rusher since 1992 (Ricky Watters). The four touchdowns were more than he had scored in his entire pro career before 1997.

Hearst's true coming out, however, occurred in 1998. He ran for 1,570 yards and 7 touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. His total rushing yards placed him third in the NFL, behind only Terrell Davis and Jamal Anderson. Hearst set a then franchise record for rushing yards in a season, breaking the former record held by Roger Craig (1,502 yards in 1988). The record was broken again in 2006 and is now held by Frank Gore (1695 yards). His 535 receiving yards gave him a combined 2,105 yards on the season, another franchise record previously held by Craig (2,066 yards in 1985), also now held by Frank Gore (2,180 yards in 2006). Against the Detroit Lions late in the season, he set a then single-game franchise record of 198 rushing yards, which was later broken by Charlie Garner (201 yards) in 2000, and currently held by Frank Gore (212 yards in 2006). He also had the longest running play in the NFL earlier in the season, when he ran 96 yards for a game-winning touchdown in overtime on Opening Day versus the New York Jets. The play was later featured on NFL Films as one of the best two running plays in NFL history. In 2001, Hearst won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

Afterwards

Following the great season by Hearst, he rushed for 128 yards and caught 3 passes for 15 in their wildcard win over the Green Bay Packers. The 49ers next faced the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Playoffs. On the first play from scrimmage, Hearst suffered a gruesome ankle break when his foot was caught in the Georgia Dome turf and twisted severely as he tried to spin away from Falcons' defensive end Chuck Smith. Doctors said he might not play again, even though the 49ers kept him on their roster as an inactive player.

Hearst ran into complications following surgery as circulatory problems choked off the blood supply in the area, leading to Avascular Necrosis, causing the talus bone in his foot to die. Bo Jackson suffered this same condition in his hip and was forced to retire from football.

After over two years of rehabilitation, Hearst played football in 2001 and became the first player in NFL history to come back to football after suffering avascular necrosis. He had an excellent season as well, rushing for 1,206 yards on a 4.8 average. His comeback earned him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. The 49ers, who were 10-22 in 2 seasons without Hearst, went 12-4 that year.

Hearst remained with the 49ers for two more seasons, but was used less often, the focus of the 49ers' running game shifting to Kevan Barlow. Hearst still ran for 972 yards and 768 yards in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Hearst was released during the 49ers' offseason after the 2003 season, in which the 49ers got rid of many key players. Hearst signed with the Denver Broncos and in his final season, he was considered a "third down specialist" who had eight first downs, and 81 yards on 20 attempts with one touchdown (4.1 yards/carry) before being placed on IR with a broken hand. He was not resigned in 2005.

Statistics

	Rushing						Receiving
YEAR	TEAM	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	NO.	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
1993	PHO	76	264	3.5	57	1	6	18	3.0	9	0
1994	ARI	37	169	4.6	36	1	6	49	8.2	29	0
1995	ARI	284	1,070	3.8	38	1	29	243	8.4	39	1
1996	CIN	225	847	3.8	24	0	12	131	10.9	40	1
1997	SF	234	1,019	4.4	51	4	21	194	9.2	69	2
1998	SF	310	1,570	5.1	96	7	39	535	13.7	81	2
1999	SF	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000	SF	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001	SF	252	1,206	4.8	43	4	41	347	8.5	60	1
2002	SF	215	972	4.5	40	8	48	317	6.6	16	1
2003	SF	178	768	4.3	36	3	25	211	8.4	26	1
2004	DEN	20	81	4.1	11	1	2	20	10.0	15	0
Totals	—	1,831	7,966	4.4	96	30	229	2,065	9.0	81	9

Personal

Hearst is married and has four children. He resides in Georgia.

Gay slur controversy

See also: Homosexuality in American football

In 2002, Hearst made inflammatory anti-gay comments to the Fresno Bee after Esera Tuaolo came out of the closet. "Aww, hell no! I don't want any faggots on my team. I know this might not be what people want to hear, but that's a punk. I don't want any faggots in this locker room." Three weeks later, Hearst apologized for his comments.

External links

• A video of Hearst's 96 yard touchdown run from NFL.com