View source for Garrison Hearst

{{Short description|American football player (born 1971)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Garrison Hearst
| image       = Garrison Hearst.jpg
| caption     = Hearst with the Georgia Bulldogs in 1991
| number      = 23, 20
| position    = [[Running back]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1971|1|4|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Lincolnton, Georgia]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 11
| weight_lb   = 215
| high_school = [[Lincoln County High School (Georgia)|Lincoln County]] (Lincolnton)
| college     = [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]] (1990–1992)
| draftyear   = 1993
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 3
| pastteams   = * [[Arizona Cardinals|Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1993|1995}})
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|1996}})
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|1997|2003}}) 
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|2004}})
| highlights  = * [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award|NFL Comeback Player of the Year]] (2001)
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1998 All-Pro Team|1998]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1999 Pro Bowl|1998]], [[2002 Pro Bowl|2001]])
* [[George Halas Award]] (2002)
* [[Doak Walker Award]] (1992)
* [[Unanimous All-American]] ([[1992 College Football All-America Team|1992]])
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|SEC Player of the Year]] (1992)
* First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1992 All-SEC football team|1992]])
* Second-team All-SEC ([[1991 All-SEC football team|1991]])
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Freshman of the Year|SEC Offensive Freshman of the Year]] (1990)
* [[Citrus Bowl (game)|Citrus Bowl]] MVP ([[1993 Florida Citrus Bowl|1993]])
* [[Florida&ndash;Georgia football rivalry#Florida&ndash;Georgia Hall of Fame|Florida&ndash;Georgia Hall of Fame]]
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 7,966
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 4.4
| statlabel3  = Rushing [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 30
| statlabel4  = [[Reception (American football)|Reception]]s
| statvalue4  = 229
| statlabel5  = Receiving yards
| statvalue5  = 2,065
| statlabel6  = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6  = 9
| pfr         = HearGa00
}}

'''Gerard Garrison Hearst''' (born January 4, 1971) is an American former  professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for ten seasons. He played [[college football]] for the [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia Bulldogs]], and was recognized as a [[unanimous All-American]]. A first-round pick by the [[Arizona Cardinals]], he also played professionally for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]], [[San Francisco 49ers]] and [[Denver Broncos]] of the NFL. He ran for 1,000 yards or more in four different seasons. He was named the [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year]] in 2001.

In 1992, Hearst finished in third place in the [[Heisman Trophy]] voting after rushing for 1,547 yards and 19 touchdowns. When he left Georgia, he was the second-leading career rusher. Hearst was the number 3 overall pick in the [[1993 NFL draft]]. He played 12 years for the NFL.<ref name=":1" />

==Early life==
Garrison Hearst was born in [[Lincolnton, Georgia]].  He attended Lincoln County High School in Lincolnton, where he was an all-state running back and broke several records.

== College career ==
Hearst attended the [[University of Georgia]], and played for the [[Georgia Bulldogs football]] team from 1990 to 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]] (SEC) 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 [[College Football All-America Team|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.<ref name=":1" />

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 (33).

Regarded as an excellent prospect, he was taken in the [[1993 NFL draft]] third overall by the [[Arizona Cardinals]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Toretta Wins Two More Awards|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-12-07/sports/9204210583_1_gino-torretta-davey-o-brien-award-maxwell-award|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005081253/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-12-07/sports/9204210583_1_gino-torretta-davey-o-brien-award-maxwell-award|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2013|work=Chicago Tribune|publisher=The Chicago Tribune|access-date=November 22, 2012}}</ref>

In 2022, it was announced that he was nominated for the 2023 College Hall of Fame ballot.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Garrison Hearst, Mark Richt up for College Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.dawgnation.com/football/garrison-hearst/5BWXGZVIINBHPKXMXOG4NWLQDA/ |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=DawgNation |language=English}}</ref>

===College statistics===
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
!|
! colspan="5" style="background:#e7e3e7;"| Rushing
! colspan="5" style="background:#e7e3e7;"| Receiving
|-
!|YEAR
!|ATT
!|YDS
!|AVG
!|LNG
!|TD
!|NO.
!|YDS
!|AVG
!|LNG
!|TD
|-
|1990||162||717||4.4||50||5||7||45||6.4||16||0
|-
|1991||153||968||6.3||69||9||16||177||11.0||24||0
|-
|1992||228||1,547||6.8||75||19||22||324||14.7||64||2
|-
!Totals!!543!!3,232!!6.0!!75!!33!!45!!546!!12.1!!64!!2
|}

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 5
|    height in = 9
|       weight = 204
|         dash =
|    ten split =
| twenty split =
|      shuttle =
|   cone drill =
|     vertical =
|     broad ft =
|     broad in =
|        bench =
|     arm span = 31 1/8
|    hand span = 9 1/2
|    wonderlic =
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Garrison&l=Hearst&i=24211 |title=Garrison Hearst, Combine Results, RB - Georgia |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=October 23, 2021}}</ref>
}}

=== Arizona Cardinals ===
Hearst was selected by the [[Phoenix Cardinals]] in the [[1993 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In Hearst's first two seasons with the Cardinals, he was used sparingly due to knee injuries. In 1995, he broke out as a pro player, rushing for 1,070 yards. This came with one touchdown and also 12 fumbles, the most for any non-quarterback.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HearGa00.htm|title=Garrison Hearst Stats {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> The Cardinals however felt it was needed to sign [[Simeon Rice]] to go with [[Leeland McElroy]] moving forward in the run game. As such, Hearst was cut by the Cardinals in the 1996 training camp.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1996/08/21/met_199244.shtml#.WJDA-tArLC0|title=Hearst cut loose by Cardinals {{!}} chronicle.augusta.com|last=Reports|first=From Staff And Wire|website=chronicle.augusta.com|access-date=January 31, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=CARDINALS MAY CUT HEARST |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/08/18/cardinals-may-cut-hearst/e0c9b28d-8c1c-4f90-be48-7f83bccf070d/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

=== Cincinnati Bengals ===
Hearst was then claimed off waivers by the [[Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960822/2345336/nfl----packer-lineman-brown-fined-not-suspended----thats-a-boost-for-line-beset-by-injuries|title=Sports {{!}} NFL -- Packer Lineman Brown Fined, Not Suspended -- That's A Boost For Line Beset By Injuries|website=community.seattletimes.nwsource.com|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref>  He played there one season, gaining 847 yards,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/garrisonhearst/2501104/profile|title=Garrison Hearst|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> but was then picked up by the [[San Francisco 49ers]].

===San Francisco 49ers===
Hearst's best years came with the [[San Francisco 49ers]]. In his first year, 1997, he ran for 1,019 yards and four touchdowns,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/garrisonhearst/2501104/careerstats|title=Garrison Hearst: Career Stats at NFL.com|website=www.nfl.com|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1998/leaders.htm|title=1998 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> 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 (American football)|Roger Craig]] (1,502 yards in 1988). The record held until 2006 ([[Frank Gore]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/single-season-rushing.htm|title=San Francisco 49ers Single-Season Rushing Leaders {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref>  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 in 2000 by [[Charlie Garner]].  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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Following the great season by Hearst, he rushed for 128 yards and caught 3 passes for 15 in their wildcard win over the [[Green Bay Packers]].  The [[San Francisco 49ers|49ers]] next faced the [[Atlanta Falcons]] in the Divisional Playoffs. On the first play from [[Line of scrimmage|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 (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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2002/01/07/316504/true-grit-garrison-hearst-refused-to-call-it-quits-despite-two-seasons-on-the-sidelines-with-a-debilitating-ankle-injury-and-now-hes-back-in-stride-and-playing-a-key-role-in-the-49ers-surprising-run-to-the-playoffs|title = True Grit Garrison Hearst refused to call it quits despite two seasons on the sidelines with a debilitating ankle injury, and now he's back in stride and playing a key role in the 49ers' surprising run to the playoffs}}</ref> [[Bo Jackson]] suffered this same condition in his hip and was forced to retire from football.

After over two years of rehabilitation, Hearst played 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. The 49ers, who were 10–22 in 2 seasons without Hearst, went 12-4 that year. He won the [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year]] award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Garrison Hearst wins AP Comeback Player of Year|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2002/01/11/pro_332469.shtml|work=chronicle.augusta.com|publisher=Morris Communications, LLC.|access-date=November 22, 2012}}</ref>

Hearst remained with the 49ers for two more seasons, but was used less often, the focus of the 49ers' running game shifting to [[Kevan Barlow]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-12-04 |title=49ERS NOTEBOOK / Hearst's pain is Barlow's big gain |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/49ERS-NOTEBOOK-Hearst-s-pain-is-Barlow-s-big-2547189.php |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref> Hearst still ran for 972 yards and 768 yards in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Hearst was released during the 49ers' offseason after the 2003 season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-02-18 |title=The Life And Career Of Garrison Hearst (Complete Story) |url=https://www.profootballhistory.com/garrison-hearst/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=Pro Football History |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Denver Broncos ===
In March 2004, Hearst signed with the [[Denver Broncos]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Garrison-Hearst-joins-Broncos/77721080257249/|title=Garrison Hearst joins Broncos|newspaper=UPI|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> 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)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/385/garrison-hearst|title=Garrison Hearst|website=ESPN.com|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> before being placed on IR with a broken hand, which was the end of his football career.<ref name=":0" />

==NFL career statistics==
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 Phoenix Cardinals season|PHO]]
|6||76||264||3.5||57||1||6||18||3.0||9||0
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] !! [[1994 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
|8||37||169||4.6||36||1||6||49||8.2||29||0
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
|16||284||1,070||3.8||38||1||29||243||8.4||39||1
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] !! [[1996 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
|16||225||847||3.8||24||0||12||131||10.9||40||1
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] !! [[1997 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
|13||234||1,019||4.4||51||4||21||194||9.2||69||2
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] !! [[1998 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
|16||310||1,570||5.1||96||7||39||535||13.7||81||2
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] !! [[1999 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| 0 || colspan="10"| ''Did not play due to injury''
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] !! [[2000 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| 0 || colspan="10"| ''Did not play due to injury''
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
|16||252||1,206||4.8||43||4||41||347||8.5||60||1
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
|16||215||972||4.5||40||8||48||317||6.6||16||1
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
|12||178||768||4.3||36||3||25||211||8.4||26||1
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
|7||20||81||4.1||11||1||2||20||10.0||15||0
|-
! colspan="2"| Total !! 126 !! 1,831 !! 7,966 !! 4.4 !! 96 !! 30 !! 229 !! 2,065 !! 9.0 !! 81 !!
|}

==Personal life==
Hearst is married and has four children. He resides in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Garriott|first=Khalil|title=Where Are They Now Garrison Hearst|url=https://www.nflplayers.com/Articles/Where-are-they-now/Where-Are-They-Now-Garrison-Hearst/|work=NFLPlayers.com|publisher=NFL Players|access-date=November 22, 2012|archive-date=September 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927011117/https://www.nflplayers.com/articles/where-are-they-now/where-are-they-now-garrison-hearst/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Gay slur controversy==
{{See also|Homosexuality in American football}}
In 2002, Hearst made inflammatory anti-gay comments to the ''[[Fresno Bee]]'' after [[Esera Tuaolo]] admitted he was gay. "Aww, hell no! I don't want any faggots on my team. I know this might not be what people want to hear, but that's a punk. I don't want any faggots in this locker room."<ref>[http://www.outsports.com/nfl/20021123eserahearstfollow.htm Hearst Doesn't Want 'Faggots' in Locker Room] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626194336/http://www.outsports.com/nfl/20021123eserahearstfollow.htm |date=June 26, 2008 }}</ref> Three weeks later, Hearst apologized for his comments.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2002%2F11%2F22%2F1 |title=49ers' Hearst retreats from gay slur |access-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206164015/http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2002%2F11%2F22%2F1 |archive-date=December 6, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/11/22/SP24826.DTL Hearst owns up to slur - Why did it take 3 weeks for this story to spread?]</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/videos/san-francisco-49ers/09000d5d8205e516/Hearst-s-96-yard-TD-run A video of Hearst's 96 yard touchdown run from NFL.com]
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{1992 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Southeastern Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{Doak Walker Award winners}}
{{1993 NFL Draft}}
{{Phoenix Cardinals 1993 draft navbox}}
{{CardinalsFirstPick}}
{{AP NFL Comeback Player}}
{{NFL Comeback Players of the Year}}
{{Madden NFL games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hearst, Garrison}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals players]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:People from Lincolnton, Georgia]]
[[Category:Phoenix Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Lincoln County, Georgia]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]
[[Category:NFL Comeback Player of the Year winners]]