NFL organizations were forced to reduce rosters down to 53 players on Tuesday ahead of the 2022 season. We heard plenty about cuts throughout the day. But how about an incredible, highly unconventional story on a player making an NFL roster?
Rookie wide receiver Jared Bernhardt made the Atlanta Falcons’ initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.
This comes one year after Bernhardt won what’s essentially the college lacrosse Heisman Trophy: the Tewaaraton Award.
Bernhardt was a superstar lacrosse player for the Maryland Terrapins, setting the school record in goals (202) and points (290). Maryland won the lacrosse national championship when Bernhardt was a freshman in 2017.
JB1 ➡️ JB83
What an awesome story as Jared Bernhardt makes the Falcons initial 53-man roster! pic.twitter.com/GHtQ6EspcI
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) August 30, 2022
It gets crazier.
Bernhardt committed to play college football at Division II Ferris State ahead of the season, but the COVID pandemic wiped that out. He then chose to return to Maryland for the 2021 lacrosse season and proceeded to be the top lacrosse player in the country.
Ahead of the 2021 college football season, Bernhardt finally transferred to Ferris State, and he quickly became a football star too. Bernhardt started at quarterback and was the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He led the Bulldogs to a 14-0 season and the Division II national title. In the national championship game, he didn’t even attempt a pass, but he ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns over 14 carries.
Bernhardt had never even played wide receiver until May, after signing with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Just a few months later, he was starring with Atlanta in training camp and the preseason.
Jared Bernhardt is athletic.
That’s it. That’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/QAWqhTdezY
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 19, 2022
The Falcons have found a diamond in the rough with Jared Bernhardt 👏🏼pic.twitter.com/DZIHVuxDXc
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) August 23, 2022
Jared Bernhardt scores his first NFL TD… this was always gonna happen. You love to see it. pic.twitter.com/GeILYKesMw
— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) August 13, 2022
And now he’s made the 53-man roster.
What a career for Jared Bernhardt 🤯
◻️ Wins Lacrosse Championship in 2017 (Maryland)
◻️ Wins Lacrosse Player of the Year (2021)
◻️ Plays QB at Ferris State
◻️ Wins Conference Player of the Year
◻️ Wins D2 Football championship
◻️ Signs with Falcons as WR
◻️ Makes 53 man roster pic.twitter.com/lPhrI91O70— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) August 30, 2022
Falcons WR Jared Bernhardt – who won the Tewaarton Award as the best lacrosse player in the country in 2021 – has made the team’s initial 53-man roster.
He started playing WR in May. One of the coolest stories in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/vZ4ww8AO5T
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 30, 2022
What an athlete, and what an amazing story.
