Falcons ex-receiver retiring from NFL to pursue a new sport

Billy Heyen

Falcons ex-receiver retiring from NFL to pursue a new sport image

The Atlanta Falcons were the team that gave Jared Bernhardt his shot.

After a legendary lacrosse career at the University of Maryland, Bernhardt managed to make the Falcons' roster as an undrafted player in 2022.

Now, three years later, Bernhardt is leaving the gridiron.

He was recently released by the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, prompting his new decision.

According to ESPN's Field Yates, Bernhardt is looking to move to the Premier Lacrosse League.

That'd be a logical step for Bernhardt. He was the Tewaaraton Award winner in 2021 for Maryland, which is the Heisman-equivalent for college lacrosse.

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According to Yates, Bernhardt is expected to make his professional lacrosse career debut in June.

He never caught a regular season pass for the Falcons, officially suiting up in just two games. He did have a game-winning TD in the preseason.

Bernhardt didn't play on a football team in 2023, then signed with BC in the CFL in September 2024. 

Now, Bernhardt is heading for a new but old adventure. He'll surely shake the rust off and fit right in as part of the PLL.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle