The defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing former UNC and Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard to a one-year contract.

Bernard–a second round pick (37th overall) by the Bengals in 2013–played each of his first nine NFL seasons in Cincinnati before being released by the team last week.

Throughout his career, Bernard has carried the ball 921 times for 3,697 yards and 22 touchdowns while also displaying his abilities in the passing game–catching 342 passes for 2,867 yards and 11 more scores.

He is also responsible for one of the most memorable moments in UNC football history, with his game-winning punt return touchdown at home against NC State in 2012.

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero that Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Tom Brady each personally recruited Bernard to Tampa Bay.

With the Buccaneers, Bernard will join a backfield led by Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones III and, of course, an offense led by the most decorated quarterback to ever play the sport.

 

 

Photo via Associated Press

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Former UNC Star Giovani Bernard Released by Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals announced Wednesday morning that they have released former UNC star running back Giovani Bernard, who spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the team. Bernard was the No. 37 overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft and has been a mainstay in the Cincinnati backfield since that time. In […]
Cleveland Browns Claim Former UNC Cornerback M.J. Stewart Off Waivers
The Cleveland Browns made a move to claim former UNC cornerback M.J. Stewart off waivers on Saturday, after Stewart was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in the week. Stewart is entering his third season in the NFL after being drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. In […]
Giovani Bernard Nominated for NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
Former UNC standout running back Giovani Bernard–who has spent his entire seven-year NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals–was chosen as his team’s nominee for this year’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The award honors an active player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field. Bernard has […]
Giovani Bernard Agress to 2-Year Extension With Cincinnati Bengals
Former UNC star running back Giovani Bernard agreed Tuesday to sign a two-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team he has spent his entire seven-year NFL career with. The deal raises Bernard’s salary this year from $3.4 million to $5.9 million, and is worth a total of $10.3 million. This includes a $600,000 […]
Mitchell Trubisky Named FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week
Following an online fan vote, former UNC quarterback–and current Chicago Bears’ signal-caller–Mitchell Trubisky was named the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week on Thursday. This comes after Trubisky threw for a career-high 354 yards and six touchdowns in the Bears’ 48-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday. It represents the first […]
Mitchell Trubisky Throws Six Touchdowns in Chicago Bears' Win Over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into Chicago on Sunday with their backup quarterback turned starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, having captured the nation’s attention through the first three weeks, it was former UNC standout Mitchell Trubisky who ended up stealing the headlines. Trubisky threw a career-high six touchdown passes–including five in the first half alone–as the […]
Ryan Switzer Hauls In First Career NFL Receiving Touchdown on Monday Night Football
UNC’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards–Ryan Switzer–finally caught his first career NFL touchdown pass on Monday night, helping the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers eke out a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Switzer caught just three passes for nine yards in the game, but his 1-yard touchdown catch in the final seconds of […]
MJ Stewart Drafted in Second Round of 2018 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Former UNC cornerback MJ Stewart was selected Friday night by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 53rd overall pick. Stewart–a 5-foot-11-inch native of Arlington, Virginia–is the UNC all-time record holder with 41 career pass breakups and has been a key member of the Tar Heel defensive […]
Buffalo Bills Sign Former UNC Center Russell Bodine
The Buffalo Bills agreed Monday to a two-year, $5 million contract with former UNC center Russell Bodine, who spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Bodine was a fourth-round pick in 2014 and has started all 64 games since then for the Bengals–a start streak that ranks second in […]
UNC Football Hopes to Rebound As Illinois Seeks Signature Win For Lovie Smith
Early last season when the UNC football team was searching for credibility, it orchestrated a 48-14 blowout of a reeling Illinois team which had just fired head coach Tim Beckman. Coming off a deflating loss to Georgia this past weekend, the Tar Heels again find themselves in a similar scenario. The Fighting Illini, however, are […]
›