Terrel Bernard is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. The Bills drafted Bernard with the 89th overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Bernard recorded 143 combined and 84 solo tackles the following season in 2023, as per Pro Football Reference. He was named as the captain in his third year in the league in 2024. In the 46 games he has appeared in the NFL, Bernard has recorded 5 interceptions, 7.5 sacks, and 269 combined tackles, as per Pro Football Reference.
Growing up in Texas, Bernard attended La Porte High School. He was ranked No. 53 by Scout and No. 78 by 247Sports, as per Baylor's official website. Bernard committed to Baylor University in 2018. Bernard completed 62 solo and 103 total tackles as a senior, as per Sports Reference. He had a breakout senior year in 2021, as he was named Dave Campbell's Texas Football Best Linebacker and DCTFB All-Texas First Team. Bernard was also a semifinalist for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year award in 2021 (via Baylor's official website).
Terrel Bernard's contract breakdown
According to Spotrac, Terrel Bernard signed a four-year contract worth $50 million with the Buffalo Bills on March 7, 2025.
| Contract | Signing Bonus | Average Salary | GTD at Sign | Total GTD |
| 4 year(s) / $50,000,000 | N/A | $12,500,000 | - | $25,200,000 |
As of March 13th, 2025, all details of his contract are not available.
| Year | Status | Base Salary | Signing Proration | Cap Hit | Dead Cap | Yearly Cash |
| 2025 | Estimate | $3,233,000 | $228,248 | $3,491,248 | $3,263,000 | |
| 2026 | ||||||
| 2027 | ||||||
| 2028 | ||||||
| 2029 | ||||||
| 2030 | UFA |
Terrel Bernard's salary
According to Spotrac, Bernard will earn a base salary of $3.2 million in 2025. The contract will carry a cap hit of $3.49 million. According to the terms of Terrel Bernard’s contract, he has an average annual salary of $12.5 million.
How much does Terrel Bernard make per minute?
If Terrel Bernard's contract worth $50 million over four years is broken down to a per-minute earning, then Bernard makes almost $23.8 per minute.
How much of Terrel Bernard’s contract is guaranteed?
According to Spotrac, Bernard is guaranteed $25.2 million out of the $50 million mentioned in the contract.
Terrel Bernard's career earnings
According to Spotrac, Terrel Bernard has amassed $3.7 million in his career, as of March 2025.
Terrel Bernard's contract history
Bernard signed one rookie contract with the Bills before signing his 4-year contract extension in 2025:
| Year | Team | Contract | Signing Bonus | Average Salary | GTD at Sign | Total GTD |
| 2022 - 2025 | Buffalo Bills | 3 year(s) / $5,042,992 | $912,992 | $1,260,748 | $912,992 | $912,992 |
;'/></svg>)
FAQs on Terrel Bernard
A. Terrel Bernard was born in La Porte, Texas, on May 17, 1999.
A. Terrel Bernard attended Baylor University from 2017 to 2021.
A. Terrel Bernard wears the jersey No. 43 for the Buffalo Bills, as of March 2025.
A. The Buffalo Bills drafted Terrel Bernard as the 89th overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
