| No. 23 – New York Giants | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | February 28, 1999 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 | |||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2023 | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||||||
Gary Brightwell Jr. (born February 28, 1999) is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL).[1][2][3][4] He played college football at Arizona.
Early years
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
In his time at Arizona, Brightwell rushed for over 1,300 yards and had nine rushing touchdowns.[6]
Professional career
| 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] | ||||||||||||
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]
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.[16]
References
- ↑ Fennelly, John (May 1, 2021). "2021 NFL draft: Giants select RB Gary Brightwell in Round 6". Giants Wire. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ↑ Falato, Nick (May 5, 2021). "Gary Brightwell film study: Reasons for optimism with Giants' new running back". Big Blue View. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ↑ Fennelly, John (May 7, 2021). "Giants draftee Gary Brightwell can do it all, college coach says". Giants Wire. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ↑ Schwartz, Paul (May 1, 2021). "Giants add physical running back Gary Brightwell late in NFL Draft". New York Post. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ↑ "Gary Brightwell – Football". University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ↑ "Gary Brightwell College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
- ↑ "Gary Brightwell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ↑ "2021 Draft Scout Gary Brightwell, Arizona NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ↑ "Gary Brightwell 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ↑ "Giants draft Arizona RB Gary Brightwell in Rd 6". Giants.com. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ↑ Ortenberg, Andrew (May 13, 2021). "Giants Sign Second-Round DE Azeez Ojulari". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
- ↑ Eisen, Michael (December 30, 2021). "Notebook: Kenny Golladay looks to finish strong; Nate Solder activated". Giants.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ↑ Eisen, Michael (October 10, 2022). "Giants 'don't flinch' in 4–1 start to season". Giants.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Gary Brightwell 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
- ↑ "Giants sign WR Gunner Olszewski to active roster; RB Gary Brightwell to IR". Giants.com. October 28, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ↑ Dunleavy, Ryan (May 13, 2021). "Giants rookie Gary Brightwell overcame family tragedies to achieve NFL dream". New York Post. Retrieved May 13, 2023.