Garrison Hearst

Garrison Hearst

refer to caption

Hearst with Georgia in 1991
No. 23, 20
Position: Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1971-01-04) January 4, 1971
Place of birth: Lincolnton, Georgia
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight: 215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school: Lincolnton (GA) Lincoln County
College: Georgia
NFL Draft: 1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Attempts: 1,831
Rushing yards: 7,966
Rushing TDs: 30
Receptions: 229
Receiving yards: 2,065
TD receptions: 9
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Gerard Garrison Hearst (born January 4, 1971) is a former running back in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of Georgia, and was recognized as an All-American. A first-round pick by the Phoenix Cardinals, he also played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos of the NFL. He ran for 1,000 yards or more in four different seasons. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2001.

Early years

Garrison Hearst was born in Lincolnton, Georgia. He attended Lincoln County High School in Lincolnton, where he was an all-state running back and broke several records.

College career

Hearst attended the University of Georgia, and played for the Georgia Bulldogs football team from 1990 to 1992, leading the nation in touchdowns (21) and in scoring (11.5 points per game) in his junior year. During his career, he established new school and Southeastern Conference (SEC) records for points scored in a season (126), total touchdowns (21), rushing touchdowns (19), and average yards per carry (6.8)*. Hearst was a consensus All-America selection, the Doak Walker Award recipient, ESPN's ESPY Winner for Outstanding Collegiate Athlete and SEC Player of the year in 1992. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Hearst finished his college career second on the Georgia records list in rushing yardage (3,232), all-purpose yardage (3,934), and 100-yard rushing games (16); trailing only Herschel Walker. He also finished third in career rushing touchdowns (35).

Regarded as an excellent prospect, he was taken in the 1993 NFL Draft third overall by the Arizona Cardinals.[1]

Statistics

Rushing Receiving
YEAR ATT YDS AVG LNG TD NO. YDS AVG LNG TD
19901627174.45057456.4160
19911539686.36991617711.0240
19922281,5476.875192232414.7642
Totals5433,2326.075334554612.1642

Professional career

In Hearst's first two seasons with the Cardinals, he was used sparingly. In 1995, however, he broke out as a pro player, rushing for 1,070 yards. However, after the season he was let go and joined the Cincinnati Bengals. He played there one season, gaining 847 yards, but was then picked up by the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco 49ers

Hearst's best years came with the 49ers. In his first year, 1997, he ran for 1,019 yards and four touchdowns, becoming the 49ers' first 1000-yard rusher since 1992 (Ricky Watters). The four touchdowns were more than he had scored in his entire pro career before 1997.

Hearst's true coming out, however, occurred in 1998. He ran for 1,570 yards and 7 touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. His total rushing yards placed him third in the NFL, behind only Terrell Davis and Jamal Anderson. Hearst set a then franchise record for rushing yards in a season, breaking the former record held by Roger Craig (1,502 yards in 1988). The record was broken again in 2006 and is now held by Frank Gore (1695 yards). His 535 receiving yards gave him a combined 2,105 yards on the season, another franchise record previously held by Craig (2,066 yards in 1985), also now held by Frank Gore (2,180 yards in 2006). Against the Detroit Lions late in the season, he set a then single-game franchise record of 198 rushing yards, which was later broken by Charlie Garner (201 yards) in 2000, and currently held by Frank Gore (212 yards in 2006). He also had the longest running play in the NFL earlier in the season, when he ran 96 yards for a game-winning touchdown in overtime on Opening Day versus the New York Jets. The play was later featured on NFL Films as one of the best two running plays in NFL history.

Afterwards

Following the great season by Hearst, he rushed for 128 yards and caught 3 passes for 15 in their wildcard win over the Green Bay Packers. The 49ers next faced the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Playoffs. On the first play from scrimmage, Hearst suffered a gruesome ankle break when his foot was caught in the Georgia Dome turf and twisted severely as he tried to spin away from Falcons' defensive end Chuck Smith. Doctors said he might not play again, even though the 49ers kept him on their roster as an inactive player.

Hearst ran into complications following surgery as circulatory problems choked off the blood supply in the area, leading to Avascular Necrosis, causing the talus bone in his foot to die. Bo Jackson suffered this same condition in his hip and was forced to retire from football.

After over two years of rehabilitation, Hearst played football in 2001 and became the first player in NFL history to come back to football after suffering avascular necrosis. He had an excellent season as well, rushing for 1,206 yards on a 4.8 average. The 49ers, who were 10-22 in 2 seasons without Hearst, went 12-4 that year. He won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.[2]

Hearst remained with the 49ers for two more seasons, but was used less often, the focus of the 49ers' running game shifting to Kevan Barlow. Hearst still ran for 972 yards and 768 yards in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Hearst was released during the 49ers' offseason after the 2003 season, in which the 49ers got rid of many key players. Hearst signed with the Denver Broncos and in his final season, he was considered a "third down specialist" who had eight first downs, and 81 yards on 20 attempts with one touchdown (4.1 yards/carry) before being placed on IR with a broken hand. He was not re-signed in 2005.

Statistics

Rushing Receiving
YEAR TEAM ATT YDS AVG LNG TD NO. YDS AVG LNG TD
1993PHO762643.55716183.090
1994ARI371694.63616498.2290
1995ARI2841,0703.8381292438.4391
1996CIN2258473.82401213110.9401
1997SF2341,0194.4514211949.2692
1998SF3101,5705.19673953513.7812
1999SF——————————
2000SF——————————
2001SF2521,2064.8434413478.5601
2002SF2159724.5408483176.6161
2003SF1787684.3363252118.4261
2004DEN20814.111122010.0150
Totals—1,8317,9664.496302292,0659.0819

Personal

Hearst is married and has four children. He resides in Georgia.[3]

Gay slur controversy

In 2002, Hearst made inflammatory anti-gay comments to the Fresno Bee after Esera Tuaolo came out of the closet. "Aww, hell no! I don't want any faggots on my team. I know this might not be what people want to hear, but that's a punk. I don't want any faggots in this locker room."[4] Three weeks later, Hearst apologized for his comments.[5][6]

49ers Records

San Francisco 49ers Franchise Records

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Toretta Wins Two More Awards". Chicago Tribune. The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Garrison Hearst wins AP Comeback Player of Year". chronicle.augusta.com. Morris Communications, LLC. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  3. ↑ Garriott, Khalil. "Where Are They Now Garrison Hearst". NFLPlayers.com. NFL Players. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Hearst Doesn't Want 'Faggots' in Locker Room
  5. ↑ 49ers' Hearst retreats from gay slur
  6. ↑ Hearst owns up to slur - Why did it take 3 weeks for this story to spread?
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