Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills play two linebackers for the vast majority of their time on defense. That makes designating a player as the “middle linebacker” difficult, since there really can’t be a middle if there are only two. However, the player wearing the green dot on his helmet as the defensive play caller is also the man who slides into the middle of three-linebacker sets.
After exploding onto the scene as a first-year starter in 2023, this particular linebacker showed himself to be a vital part of the Buffalo defense. He’s excellent in run support, but it’s his work in pass coverage that makes him invaluable to the club. He’s had two different running mates over the last two seasons, and he’s been equally impressive regardless of the second main linebacker with him.
In today’s installment of “90 players in 90 days,” we discuss Buffalo’s middle linebacker.
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Name: Terrel Bernard
Number: 8
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 224 pounds
Age: 26 (27 on 5/7/2026)
Experience/Draft: 4; selected by Buffalo in the third round (No. 89 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft
College: Baylor
Acquired: Third-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Bernard signed a four-year extension worth $42.143 million overall, keeping him under contract with the Bills through the 2029 season. That extension doesn’t kick in until next year, though, so for this season, Bernard carries a cap hit of $2,535,178 as he finishes out his rookie deal. The contract extension includes a $14 million signing bonus and over $23 million in total guarantees. His dead-cap number if released is now $14,335.178.
2024 Recap: Statistically, Bernard was outstanding once again last season. He was second on the team in tackles, notching 104 over the course of the regular season. He added two interceptions, three pass breakups, one sack, five tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, and three quarterback hits.
The biggest issue Bernard had last season was staying healthy. He strained a pectoral muscle during Buffalo’s Week 2 victory over the Miami Dolphins, which caused him to miss the next two games. While he returned and played well in Buffalo’s 23-20 loss at the Houston Texans, he injured his ankle in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, which caused him to miss the next game against the Seattle Seahawks. Bernard injured his quad in Week 17 against the New York Jets, and he sat out the regular-season finale against the New England Patriots as a result.
Bernard was back for the playoffs, though, and he totaled 16 tackles, one tackle for loss, and a huge forced fumble and fumble recovery on tight end Mark Andrews against the Baltimore Ravens to help the Bills seal a victory.
Positional outlook: Bernard is one of the team’s two top linebackers. Matt Milano is the other. Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, and Shaq Thompson are the other linebackers on the roster.
2025 Offseason: Bernard is ready to roll for Week 1. He dealt with a hamstring injury early in camp.
2025 Season outlook: So long as...
