| Gary Brightwell Jr. | |
| Current Team: | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Number: | 44 |
| Position: | Running back |
| Birth Date: | 28 February 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lb: | 218 |
| High School: | St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| College: | Arizona (2017–2020) |
| Draftyear: | 2021 |
| Draftround: | 6 |
| Draftpick: | 196 |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Status: | Practice squad |
| Statleague: | NFL |
| Statseason: | 2023 |
| Statlabel1: | Rushing attempts |
| Statvalue1: | 41 |
| Statlabel2: | Rushing yards |
| Statvalue2: | 164 |
| Statlabel3: | Rushing touchdowns |
| Statvalue3: | 1 |
| Statlabel4: | Receptions |
| Statvalue4: | 11 |
| Statlabel5: | Receiving yards |
| Statvalue5: | 92 |
| Statlabel6: | Receiving touchdowns |
| Statlabel7: | Return yards |
| Statvalue7: | 555 |
| Pfr: | BrigGa00 |
Gary Brightwell Jr. (born February 28, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He has previously played in the NFL for the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Arizona.
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.[1]
In his time at Arizona, Brightwell rushed for over 1,300 yards and had nine rushing touchdowns.[2]
Brightwell was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round, 196th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.[3] On May 13, 2021, Brightwell officially signed with the Giants.[4] On December 30, 2021, Brightwell was placed on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury.[5]
Brightwell had his first career rushing touchdown in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers in the 27–22 victory.[6] In the 2022 season, Brightwell appeared in all 17 games. He totaled 31 carries for 141 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.[7]
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.[8] He was waived with injury designation on May 30, 2024.[9]
On August 3, 2024, Brightwell signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[10] He was waived on August 27.[11]
On August 29, 2024, Brightwell was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.[12] He was promoted to the active roster on September 21.[13] Brightwell was waived by the Browns on October 1, and re-signed to the practice squad.[14] He was released on October 29.
On November 11, 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Brightwell to their practice squad.[15]
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]