The Atlanta Falcons are coming into the 2025 season with plenty of weapons. With quarterback Michael Penix Jr. entering his first full season as the Falcons starter, it’s nice to have an elite pass catcher such as Drake London and an elite running game headlined by Bijan Robinson.
But with all the weapons the Falcons have, there’s not a lot of room to crack the team. That’s led one former Falcons receiver to pursue a career change and already turn himself into a star in his new profession.
Former Falcons WR Jared Bernhardt Set to Make Debut in Premier Lacrosse League
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, former Falcons receiver Jared Bernhardt is pursuing a move to the Premier Lacrosse League. Yates adds that Bernhardt will be meeting with several teams over the next week and is expected to make his professional lacrosse debut in June.
Bernhardt’s transition to lacrosse isn’t surprising, as he was one of the nation’s best players at the University of Maryland. He ended his career as the Terrapins’ all-time record holder in career points (290), goals (202), single-season points (99), single-season goals (71), goals in a single NCAA Tournament (18), and points in a single NCAA tournament (24). He also won the 2021 Tewaarton Award, given to the most outstanding American college lacrosse men’s and women’s players.
With a resume like that, it’s not surprising that Bernhardt would make a career change. But his path to football is a unique one. Bernhardt took advantage of the NCAA’s “five to play four rule,” which allows athletes to play one year in a different sport when they have exhausted their eligibility in their main sport. Bernhardt transferred to play quarterback at Ferris State for the 2021 season and made the Falcons roster as a wide receiver in 2022, appearing in two games before being placed on injured reserve with a groin injury.
Bernhardt briefly retired from football in 2023 before joining the CFL’s BC Lions practice roster in 2024, but was released by the Lions earlier this month. While it’s been a journey for Bernhardt, it appears he’s set to the sport he starred in during college and has a chance to make an immediate impact when he makes his debut.