Jump to content

Gary Brightwell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gary Brightwell Jr.
Personal information
Born: (1999-02-28) February 28, 1999 (age 25)
Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)
College:Arizona (2017–2020)
Position:Running back
NFL draft:2021 / round: 6 / pick: 196
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
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 who is a free agent.[1][2][3][4] He played college football at Arizona.

Early life

[edit]

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.[5]

College career

[edit]

In his time at Arizona, Brightwell rushed for over 1,300 yards and had nine rushing touchdowns.[6]

Professional career

[edit]
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[7][8][9]

New York Giants

[edit]

Brightwell was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round, 196th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.[10] On May 13, 2021, Brightwell officially signed with the Giants.[11] On December 30, 2021, Brightwell was placed on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury.[12]

Brightwell had his first career rushing touchdown in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers in the 27–22 victory.[13] In the 2022 season, Brightwell appeared in all 17 games. He totaled 31 carries for 141 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.[14]

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.[15] He was waived with injury designation on May 30, 2024.[16]

Jacksonville Jaguars

[edit]

On August 3, 2024, Brightwell signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[17] He was waived on August 27.[18]

Cleveland Browns

[edit]

On August 29, 2024, Brightwell was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.[19] He was promoted to the active roster on September 21.[20] Brightwell was waived by the Browns on October 1, and re-signed to the practice squad.[21] He was released on October 29.

Personal life

[edit]

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.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Fennelly, John (May 1, 2021). "2021 NFL draft: Giants select RB Gary Brightwell in Round 6". Giants Wire. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Falato, Nick (May 5, 2021). "Gary Brightwell film study: Reasons for optimism with Giants' new running back". Big Blue View. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Fennelly, John (May 7, 2021). "Giants draftee Gary Brightwell can do it all, college coach says". Giants Wire. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Schwartz, Paul (May 1, 2021). "Giants add physical running back Gary Brightwell late in NFL Draft". New York Post. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Gary Brightwell – Football". University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "Gary Brightwell College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "Gary Brightwell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "2021 Draft Scout Gary Brightwell, Arizona NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "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)
  10. ^ "Giants draft Arizona RB Gary Brightwell in Rd 6". Giants.com. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Ortenberg, Andrew (May 13, 2021). "Giants Sign Second-Round DE Azeez Ojulari". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Eisen, Michael (December 30, 2021). "Notebook: Kenny Golladay looks to finish strong; Nate Solder activated". Giants.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Eisen, Michael (October 10, 2022). "Giants 'don't flinch' in 4–1 start to season". Giants.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Gary Brightwell 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Giants sign WR Gunner Olszewski to active roster; RB Gary Brightwell to IR". Giants.com. October 28, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "Giants sign DB Elijah Riley; RB Gary Brightwell waived/injured". Giants.com. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  17. ^ "Roster Moves: Jaguars Sign RB Gary Brightwell and TE Chris Myarick, and Waive 2". Jaguars.com. August 3, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "Roster Moves: Jacksonville Jaguars Make The Following Roster Moves Hours Before 2024 Roster Deadline". Jaguars.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Browns sign RB D'Onta Foreman, add five to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 29, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  20. ^ "Browns sign RB Gary Brightwell and TE Blake Whiteheart to active roster". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 21, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  21. ^ "Browns waive RB Gary Brightwell". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  22. ^ Dunleavy, Ryan (May 13, 2021). "Giants rookie Gary Brightwell overcame family tragedies to achieve NFL dream". New York Post. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gary_Brightwell&oldid=1254245204"