Gary Brightwell

American football player (born 1999)

American football player

Gary Brightwell Jr.

No. 23 – New York Giants

Position:

Running back

Personal information

Born:

(1999-02-28) February 28, 1999 (age 25)
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

New York Giants (2021–present)

Roster status:

Active

Career NFL statistics as of 2023

Rushing attempts:	41
Rushing yards:	164
Rushing touchdowns:	1
Receptions:	11
Receiving yards:	92
Return yards:	555

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

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]

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.