The Atlanta Falcons released former collegiate lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt from the team’s reserve/retired list on Monday.
Bernhardt, who made the Falcons’ roster in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, had been on the list for nearly a year after he announced his retirement in May 2023.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound wide receiver appeared in two regular season games in 2022 and did not catch a pass following a stellar preseason. His campaign ended prematurely due to a groin injury.
Bernhardt, a Longwood, Fla. native, starred on the lacrosse field at Maryland from 2017-21. As a freshman, he started for the Terrapins’ national championship team, and as a senior in 2021, Bernhardt won the Tewaaraton Award as the top college lacrosse player in the country.
After transferring to Division II Ferris State to play football, Bernhardt started at quarterback for the Bulldogs in 2021, throwing for 1,322 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 1,421 yards and 26 touchdowns and being named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
Ferris State went 14-0 and captured the Division II national championship, with Bernhardt rushing for 148 yards and three touchdowns in a 58-17 title game win over Valdosta State.
Bernhardt is currently the men’s lacrosse program’s director of player development at his alma mater.