One of Buffalo’s key locker room leaders is staying put. Linebacker has agreed to a four-year contract extension, keeping him with the team through 2029.
Top star, who was voted one of Buffalo’s two captains for the 2024 season, wrapped up his third NFL year with 104 tackles, two interceptions, five tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, one sack, and three passes defensed.
As the leader of the defense, he proved his reliability with several game-changing plays in 2024. In Buffalo’s AFC Divisional matchup against Baltimore, he forced a crucial fourth-quarter fumble with under nine minutes remaining. The Bills capitalized on the turnover, kicking a field goal to extend their lead to eight points and help secure the victory.
Bernard also delivered a game-sealing play in Week 11 against Kansas City. With just 1:17 left in the fourth quarter and the Chiefs driving into Buffalo territory, he intercepted Patrick Mahomes on 4th-and-13, securing the Bills’ victory.
Over his three seasons in Buffalo, Bernard has appeared in 46 games with 31 starts, accumulating 263 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, five interceptions, 15 tackles for loss, eight passes defensed, and four fumble recoveries.
His most statistically dominant season came in 2023 when he joined Greg Lloyd (PIT-1989), Richard Dent (CHI-1990), and Seth Joyner (PHI-1991) as one of the only players since 1982 to record at least six sacks, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries in a single season.
A Baylor product, Bernard was selected by Buffalo in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.