Antonio Bryant

Antonio Bryant
Bryant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009
No. 88, 81, 89
PositionWide receiver
Personal information
Born (1981-03-09) March 9, 1981
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolMiami Northwestern
CollegePittsburgh (1999–2001)
NFL draft2002: 2nd round, 63rd overall pick
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Receptions372
Receiving yards5,685
Receiving touchdowns30
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Antonio Bryant (born March 9, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers, earning consensus All-American honors and winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award. Bryant was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft, and also played professionally for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.

Early life

Bryant was born in Miami, Florida and graduated from Miami Northwestern High School, where he was a standout high school football player for the Bulls.[1] He was selected as a team captain in three straight years and helped lead his team as a senior to a Class 6A state title and an undefeated record (16–0).

College career

Bryant attended the University of Pittsburgh, and played for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1999 to 2001.[2] He was a first-team All-Big East selection in 2000 and 2001, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American as a sophomore in 2000.[3] He also won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the season's outstanding college football receiver in 2000; he was the second sophomore to win the award (after Randy Moss). He declared for the NFL draft after his junior year, leaving as the conference's record holder for regular-season touchdowns (26) and 100-yard receiving games (13).[4]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jump
6 ft 1+1⁄4 in
(1.86 m)		188 lb
(85 kg)		32+1⁄4 in
(0.82 m)		9 in
(0.23 m)		4.60 s1.62 s2.69 s37.0 in
(0.94 m)		10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)
All values from NFL Combine[5][6]

Dallas Cowboys

2002 season

Bryant was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2002 NFL draft, after dropping because of character concerns.[7][8] He was given number 88 with the expectation of developing into a great player and was the first rookie wide receiver to start in a season opener since Michael Irvin.[9] At the time, his 44 receptions ranked third, his 733 receiving yards ranked fourth and his 6 touchdown receptions ranked second all-time for a Cowboys rookie in a season. On October 13, he had his signature moment against the Carolina Panthers on a 4th and 14, last minute game-winning acrobatic touchdown reception from quarterback Quincy Carter.[10][11] In Week 17, he had seven receptions for 170 yards and a touchdown in a 20–14 loss to Washington.[12] As a rookie, he finished with 44 receptions for 733 yards and six touchdowns.[13] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[14]

2003 season

In 2003, Bryant was moved to third receiver after Terry Glenn was signed as a free agent. He finished the 2003 season with 39 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns.[15]

2004 season

In 2004, the arrival of free agent Keyshawn Johnson started to affect his attitude. During a mini-camp practice after being unsatisfied with the number of reps he had, he started cursing and threw his jersey aiming at Bill Parcells head, before the team broke up the fight. Although Parcells gave him a second chance, tensions kept escalating from that point forward. He was eventually traded to the Cleveland Browns after the fifth game of the season, in exchange for wide receiver Quincy Morgan, who also had issues with his team.[16]

Cleveland Browns

In Week 12 of the 2004 season, Bryant had eight receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a 58–48 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.[17] In Week 13, he had seven receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns in a 42–15 loss to the New England Patriots.[18] He finished the 2004 season with 58 receptions for 812 yards and four touchdowns.[19]

In Week 17 of the 2005 season, Bryant had nine receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in the 20–16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.[20] In 2005, Bryant led the Browns in catches (69), receiving yards (1,009 yards) and touchdowns (four).[21] He became a free agent at the end of the year.

San Francisco 49ers

Bryant signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2006. In Week 2, against the St. Louis Rams, he had four receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown in the 20–13 win.[22] On December 22, 2006, he was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.[23] He finished the 2006 season with 40 receptions for 733 yards and three touchdowns.[24] On March 1, 2007, he was released one year after he signed a four-year, $14 million contract.[25]

Free agency

On September 17, 2007, Bryant was reinstated by the league, but was not able to sign with a team, partly because of a failed drug test over the summer. In October, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL to try to get them to stop drug testing him since he was not a player at the time, and to drop the failed drug test.[25] In December, the case was resolved without the details being released.[26]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After not playing the previous year, on March 10, 2008, Bryant signed a deal for the veteran minimum with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had a career game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 14, finishing with nine receptions for 200 yards, including a one-handed touchdown catch dubbed "catch of the year".[27] Despite his performance, the Buccaneers lost 38–23.[28] In Week 16, he had six receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown in the 41–24 loss to the San Diego Chargers.[29] Bryant finished his best season as a professional with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 15 yards per catch.[30] He became the team's leading receiver and the second player in franchise history to record three or more consecutive 100-yard receiving games. On February 18, 2009, he was given the franchise tag by the Buccaneers.[31] In the 2009 season, he finished with 39 receptions for 600 yards and four touchdowns.[32] On February 25, 2010, he was waived after a somewhat disappointing and injury-plagued season.

Cincinnati Bengals

After finishing an injury-plagued season and coming off surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Bryant on March 10, 2010, to a four-year contract worth a reported $28 million, along with multiple incentives.[33]

After the Bengals signed Terrell Owens, Bryant gave up his No. 81 jersey for Owens, who had worn the number his entire career. In return for the number, Bryant requested Owens make a donation to his charity and wore jersey No. 19 instead.[34] After struggling in practices and not being able to play in any of the pre-season games because of problems with his left knee, the Bengals released him on August 29.[35]

Seattle Seahawks

On June 12, 2012, Bryant worked out for the Seattle Seahawks by attending their three-day mini-camp and took a physical for the team as well.[36] On June 15, 2012, it was reported that he finished all three of the minicamp practices, indicating that his chronic knee injury had healed.[37] After being out of football for two years, Bryant signed with the Seahawks on July 26.[38] His stay with the team was short lived, as he was released on August 5.[39]

NFL career statistics

Year Team GP Receiving Rushing Fumbles
RecTgtsYdsAvgLngTDFDAttYdsAvgLngTDFDFumLost
2002DAL 16449373316.7786326406.7240132
2003DAL 16398355014.154227200.020000
2004DAL 5162726616.648011000.000011
CLE 10427254613.055425000.000000
2005CLE 16691231,00914.654444133.030011
2006SF 14409173318.372329000.000000
2008TB 16831381,24815.07175822211.0130211
2009TB 13398660015.442425000.000000
Career1063727135,68515.3783025111655.2240365

References

  1. ↑ "High schools that have produced the most NFL draft picks - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. May 15, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Antonio Bryant College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  3. ↑ 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Big East Conference Career Leaders and Records for Receiving Touchdowns". Sports Reference. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Antonio Bryant, Pittsburgh, WR, 2002 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Antonio Bryant, Combine Results, WR - Pittsburgh". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  7. ↑ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  8. ↑ Aron, Jamie (September 14, 2002). "Former Pitt star grabs starting job with Cowboys". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved February 19, 2016 – via Google News.
  9. ↑ "Productive rookie making big catches for Cowboys". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. October 17, 2002. Retrieved February 19, 2016 – via Google News.
  10. ↑ "Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys - October 13th, 2002". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Quincy Carter to Antonio Bryant Game Winning TD". YouTube. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins - December 29th, 2002". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Antonio Bryant 2002 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  14. ↑ "2002 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Antonio Bryant 2003 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  16. ↑ McManus, Tim (October 19, 2004). "Receiver shift: Cowboys trade Bryant to Browns". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals - November 28th, 2004". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  18. ↑ "New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns - December 5th, 2004". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Antonio Bryant 2004 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns - January 1st, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  21. ↑ "2005 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  22. ↑ "St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers - September 17th, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  23. ↑ Pasquarelli, Len (December 22, 2006). "Bryant suspended for violating substance abuse policy". ESPN. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Antonio Bryant 2006 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Ex-49ers receiver Bryant files motion over drug testing". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 27, 2007. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved October 27, 2007.
  26. ↑ McManus, Tim (December 12, 2007). "Ex-Niner Bryant gets resolution in lawsuit vs. NFL". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  27. ↑ Smith, Scott (May 27, 2025). "Top Five Receiving Performances in Bucs History". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers - December 8th, 2008". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  29. ↑ "San Diego Chargers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - December 21st, 2008". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Antonio Bryant 2008 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  31. ↑ Stroud, Rick & Holder, Stephen F. (February 20, 2009). "Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant 'not happy or pleased' with franchise player tag, agent says". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Antonio Bryant 2009 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Bryant signs four-year contract, wants to further Bengals' success". NFL.com. March 12, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Owens finally shows at Bengals camp, practices". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 29, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  35. ↑ Walker, James (August 30, 2010). "Antonio Bryant cut by Cincinnati Bengals after struggling in camp despite $8 million guaranteed - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  36. ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (June 12, 2012). "Antonio Bryant gets another shot with Seahawks". NFL.com. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  37. ↑ Sessler, Marc (June 15, 2012). "Pete Carroll: Antonio Bryant 'not in very good shape'". NFL.com. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Seattle signs WR Antonio Bryant to active roster". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 27, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Seahawks release Antonio Bryant". NBC Sports. August 5, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
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