Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard proposes to girlfriend after breakout 2023 season

The engagement comes after Bernard had a breakout season with the Bills. He was selected by the team in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and recorded 22 tackles in 16 games during his rookie season. Bernard became a starter in 2023 and notched 143 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three interceptions and five passes defended.

“I thought he had a magnificent year, I really did, and not only just on the field but also in terms of his leadership, right?” Bills coach Sean McDermott said on One Bills Live earlier this month, per Sports Illustrated. “I remember watching, I think it was Hardy had just scored the touchdown against the Dolphins in the game that won us the division.

“I walk down the sideline to address the defense to just say ‘Hey, this is a big series right here’ and I didn’t have to do that because TB was already down there doing that. And to watch the look of his teammates, the look on their eyes was like ‘Hey, we’re with you, we’ve got you,’ and you can just tell that they respect him and what he’s all about. And I think that says a lot about a young player in particular.”

Terrel Bernard ready to put in more work

Once the 2023 season ended, Bernard talked about the work he put in to be a better player. “I feel like I made a lot of progress mentally, physically, emotionally, just trying to be the centerpiece for this defense and trying to be a guy that all my teammates, all the coaches and everybody in the building can count on,” Benard explained.

“There’s a lot of work and a lot of effort and a lot of things that go into trying to be the middle linebacker of the Buffalo Bills. There’s a standard of how we do things and how we handle ourselves, and I feel like I’ve learned that.”