Matt Bernstein (American football)

Last updated

Matt Bernstein
No. 44
Position: Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1982-12-26) December 26, 1982 (age 41)
Scarsdale, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school: Greenville (NY) Edgemont
College: Wisconsin
Undrafted: 2006
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Matt Bernstein (born December 26, 1982) is a former American football fullback. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and signed with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) as an unsigned free agent. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League (AFL).

Contents

High school career

Bernstein attended Edgemont Junior – Senior High School in New York, [1] where he played as a fullback, linebacker, and tight end. [2] He rushed for 1,885 yards and 25 scores as a junior. [1] He then added 37 touchdowns and 2,002 yards on the ground and made 108 tackles with seven forced fumbles as a senior, earning the prep version of the Heisman Trophy for that performance. [1] Bernstein finished his career ranked third all-time in New York prep annals in scoring with 504 points. [2] He was a two-time Class C Player of the Year selection and a Con Edison Scholar-Athlete. [1] [2]

College career

Bernstein played for the Wisconsin Badgers. As a redshirt freshman, he was named Academic All-Big Ten Conference selection [2] and received the Elroy Hirsch Football Scholarship. [3] He produced 53 touchdown-resulting blocks for a ground game that totaled 71 rushing touchdowns during his first three seasons at Wisconsin, [2] and averaged 10 knockdown blocks per game and made 11 touchdown resulting blocks as a pass protector. [1]

Bernstein played in every game in 2003 as a sophomore and emerged as the starting fullback. [2] He started every game as a junior and finished third on the team with a career-high 300 rushing yards and a touchdown. [2] He was named preseason All-American and All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report as a senior. [2]

During his junior year, Bernstein, who is Jewish, [4] [5] fasted in observance of the religious holiday Yom Kippur prior to a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Bernstein recovered from the fast with a "pregame IV bag, and during the game, moved on to turkey slices, fruit and the Penn State defense", according to ESPN. [4] [5] In 2006, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. [6]

Professional career

Bernstein was signed by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent, [2] but was cut prior to the start of the 2006 season. The following year, he joined the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League (AFL). [7] [8] However, he spent the entire 2007 season on injured reserve. In 2008, he attended a mini-camp with the New York Giants.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Dayne</span> American football player (born 1978)

Ronald Dayne is an American former football running back who played for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, where he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy. He was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft. He also played for the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Henry Johnson</span> American gridiron football player (1929–2011)

John Henry Johnson was an American professional football player who was a running back. He was known for his excellence at the fullback position as both a runner and a blocker. His first professional stint was in Canada in the Western Interprovincial Football Union for one season with the Calgary Stampeders. He then played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers before spending his final season in the American Football League (AFL) with the Houston Oilers. Commonly referred to as simply John Henry, an allusion to the folk hero of the same name, Johnson was a tough and tenacious player who performed at a high level well into the tail end of his career.

Brian Calhoun is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft.

Cory Michael Schlesinger is an American former professional football player who was a fullback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) and current executive for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was selected by the Lions in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft. He was selected to three Pro Bowls.

Richard Darnoll Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Jamar Mondell Israel is an American former professional football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and was a two-time All-American selection. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft, and he also played for the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lydell Mitchell</span> American football player (born 1949)

Lydell Douglas Mitchell is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1972 to 1980. During his nine-season NFL career, Mitchell played for the Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Penn State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Robinson (fullback)</span> American football player (born 1983)

Burton Michael Robinson is an American former football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He is currently an analyst for the NFL Network and NBC.

The 2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Antonio Christopher Hunt is an American former professional football player who was a running back for two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Hunt played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played one season in the Austrian Football League (AFL) in Europe.

The 2003 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1934 Detroit Lions season</span> NFL team season

The 1934 Detroit Lions season was the fifth in franchise history and the first in Detroit; the franchise had previously played as the Portsmouth Spartans in Portsmouth, Ohio, a city with a population of approximately 40,000. Under head coach Potsy Clark, the Lions won their first ten games then lost three straight in an eight-day span to end the season at 10–3. They finished in second place in the NFL Western Division, three games behind the undefeated Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1974 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 10–1 record, outscored opponents 324 to 75, and were ranked #3 in final AP Poll. Michigan won the first ten games of the 1974 season in convincing fashion, including blowout victories over Colorado (31-0), Navy (52-0), Minnesota (49-0), and Purdue (51-0). In the final game of the season, #2 Michigan faced #3 Ohio State. The Wolverines lost by a score of 12-10, as place-kicker Mike Lantry missed a last-minute field goal that would have given Michigan a victory.

The 1944 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1944 Big Ten Conference football season. Under seventh-year head coach Fritz Crisler, Michigan compiled a record of 8–2, outscored opponents 204 to 91, finished in second place in the Big Ten Conference, and was ranked #8 in the final AP Poll. The team opened the season with a victory over an Iowa-Pre-Flight team that won all of its remaining games and ended the season ranked #6 in the final AP Poll. The Wolverines then shut out four opponents: Marquette (14-0); Northwestern (27-0); Illinois (14-0); and Wisconsin (14-0). The team's two losses came against Indiana and an undefeated Ohio State team that was ranked #2 in the final AP Poll.

The 1936 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1936 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth season under head coach Harry Kipke, the Wolverines compiled a 1–7 record, finished last in the Big Ten, and were outscored by opponents by a total of 127 to 36. They ranked 127th of 131 teams in major college football with an average of 4.5 points scored per game.

The 1935 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1935 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Harry Kipke, the Wolverines compiled a 4–4 record, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 131 to 68. The team had a 4–1 record after five games, but was shut out in its final three games. Michigan's 40–0 loss to 1935 consensus national champion Minnesota in the annual Little Brown Jug game was the worst defeat suffered by a Michigan Wolverines football team since 1892.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabe Carimi</span> American football player (born 1988)

Gabriel Andrew Carimi is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). Carimi had 49 starts at left tackle in his four-year Wisconsin Badgers college career, which culminated at the 2011 Rose Bowl. He was awarded the 2010 Outland Trophy, as the nation's top collegiate interior lineman. He was also a unanimous All-American, and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Clement</span> American football player (born 1994)

Corey Joel Clement is an American professional football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He won Super Bowl LII with the team his rookie season, catching a touchdown in the game and helping execute the Philly Special.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Andre Swift</span> American football player (born 1999)

D'Andre Tiyon Swift is an American professional football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Detroit Lions with the third pick of the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. In 2023, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he earned his first Pro Bowl selection before signing with the Bears in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Observance of Yom Kippur by Jewish athletes</span>

Since the early 20th-century, numerous Jewish athletes have chosen not to play on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism. As one of the most culturally significant Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur is observed by many secular Jews who may not observe other holidays. Jews observing the holiday participate in full fasting and asceticism.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Matt Bernstein Draft Profile". FoxSports.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "44 Matt Bernstein". DetroitLions.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2007. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  3. ↑ Badger Chalk Talk Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine , Fall 2002, Volume 02, Issue 3.
  4. 1 2 Mietkiewicz, Mark. "To play or pray: Yom Kippur and Jewish pro athletes". St. Louis Jewish Light. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Maisel, Ivan. "Bernstein feasted on Penn State after fasting". ESPN. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  6. ↑ Profile of Bernstein [usurped] on National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame web site.
  7. ↑ "Philadelphia Soul Sign FB's Matt Bernstein and George Layne – AFL" Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine , The Raw Feed, January 18, 2007
  8. ↑ "Former Badger gets taste of Israel" [ permanent dead link ], Jerusalem Post, December 29, 2006
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.