Gary Brightwell holds the RB · Depth spot in Cincinnati Bengals’s running back room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Gary Brightwell played 2 games in 2025 with a 0% snap share.

Gary Brightwell is a running back who attended the University of Arizona and was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft (196th overall). He spent his first three years with New York, appearing in 13 games as a rookie in 2021 and playing in all 17 regular-season games in 2022, when he served as the Giants' primary kick returner, averaging 21.3 yards on 26 kickoff returns. After limited action in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, Brightwell played for Cleveland early in the 2024 season before joining Cincinnati's practice squad in November 2024. He currently is with the Bengals and has appeared in 41 career regular-season games, accumulating 41 rushing attempts for 164 yards and one touchdown, 11 receptions for 92 yards, and 32 kickoff returns for 674 yards.

Arizona2017 – 2020

Giants2021 – 2023

Bengals2024 — present

CollegeArizonaDraftRound 6 · No. 196 overall · 2021 · NYGAcquiredAcquired from New York Giants · drafted thereHometownChester, PA