Garrison Hearst

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Gerald Garrison Hearst (born January 4, 1971) is a former NFL running back who last played for the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2004. He had previously played for the Phoenix and Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers. He ran for 1,000 yards in a season on four occasions and is the only NFL player to have won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award twice, in 1995 and 2001. He is currently single and the father of two sons and a daughter.

[edit] High School

Garrison Hearst attended Lincoln County High School in Georgia where he was an all-state running back and broke several records, such as the single season rushing record in the state.

[edit] College career

Hearst attended the University of Georgia, and played football there for three years (1990-1992), 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 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 Phoenix Cardinals.

[edit] NFL 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 and earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award honors. 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Afterwards

Following the great season by Hearst, the 49ers faced the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Playoffs. Unfortunately 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 long rehabilitation, Hearst surprised many by playing 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. His amazing comeback earned him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. The 49ers, who were 10-22 in 2 seasons without Hearst, went 12-4 that year.

Hearst would remain 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 would be released during the 49ers offseason fire sale after the 2003 season, in which the 49ers would get rid of many key players and rebuild. 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 resigned in 2005.

[edit] External links

• Hearst's career statistics on nfl.com