Bernard and the Bills have agreed to terms on a four-year, $50 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The 2022 third-round pick had one season remaining on his rookie contract, after thriving the past two years. He wasn't as statistically dominant in 2024 as he had been in 2023, but he still topped 100 tackles and had multiple interceptions despite missing four games. In 2023, he had one of the best statistical seasons by a linebacker in recent years, recording 143 tackles (84 solo), including 6.5 sacks, five pass defenses, including three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. Garofolo reports that Bernard's new contract includes $25.2 million guaranteed, which would put him fourth among off-ball linebackers behind Baltimore's Roquan Smith ($45 million), Chicago's Tremaine Edmunds ($41.8 million) and San Francisco's Fred Wagner ($27.5 million). The reported average annual value of $12.5 million ranks a bit lower, tying for sixth at the position.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Hits century mark in tackles
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Bernard recorded 104 tackles (55 solo) including 1.0 sacks, along with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, over 13 regular-season games in 2024.
Bernard led Buffalo's linebackers in snaps by a wide margin in 2024 despite missing four games due to injuries, and he managed to reach 100 tackles for the second season straight. Despite the decline in his raw numbers after he racked up 143 tackles in 2023, he was more productive on a per-snap basis than he was in that breakout campaign. Bernard was the Bills' second-leading tackler in 2024 and figures to retain a starting role, as well as IDP appeal, during the last year of his rookie contract in 2025.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Optimism for playoffs
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Coach Sean McDermott said Friday that he feels good about Bernard's (quadriceps) chances of playing in next weekend's playoff opener, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Bernard will not play Sunday against the Patriots, but it sounds like his injury suffered in Week 17 isn't serious enough to keep him sidelined long-term. Through 13 appearances this season, Bernard has logged 104 tackles (55 solo), including five TFLs and 1.0 sacks, three pass breakups, including two interceptions, and one fumble recovery.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Won't play at New England
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Head coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that Bernard (quadricep) won't play Sunday against the Patriots, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Bernard apparently suffered the quad injury in the Week 17 win over the Jets, and with the Bills locked in as the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, he'll sit out the regular-season finale to aid in his recovery. Rookie Joe Andreessen could be a candidate to serve as Bernard's primary replacement at linebacker.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Team-high 12 tackles vs. Patriots
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Bernard finished Sunday's 24-21 win over New England with 12 tackles (eight solo).
Sunday was the third straight game that Bernard has registered double-digit tackles. He's logged at least eight combined tackles in each of his last eight outings, and he has played every single snap in six of those contests. Bernard is up to 98 combined tackles through 12 regular-season games, and he'll likely hit the century mark for the second straight year in the Bills' Week 17 clash against the Jets on Sunday.
Bernard totaled 10 tackles (four solo) during Buffalo's win over the Lions on Sunday.
Bernard led the team in tackles once again during Sunday's victory and has now racked up double-digit tackles in back-to-back games for a total of three times this season. Across his first 11 outings of the campaign, the 25-year-old has recorded 86 tackles (47 solo), with 1.0 sacks, and two interceptions.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Another strong tackling game
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Bernard recorded 10 tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 44-42 loss to the Rams.
Bernard has now recorded eight or more tackles in seven of the 10 games he's played in this season. The middle linebacker has 76 stops (43 solo) on the year. He also has three pass breakups, including two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Makes plays in win
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Bernard recorded eight tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, and an interception in Sunday's 30-21 win over the Chiefs.
The middle linebacker also played on every defensive snap for the fifth time in the eight games he's played in this season. Bernard has 57 tackles (36 solo), three passes defensed, including two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 2024.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Past ankle issue
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Bernard (ankle) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins.
Bernard was able to practice in full Friday after logging back-to-back limited sessions to begin the Bills' week of practice, suggesting he's now moved past his ankle issue. The third-year linebacker has recorded 32 total tackles and one interception across five appearances this season. He's expected to serve as Buffalo's top middle linebacker in the Week 9 divisional matchup.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Misses Wednesday's practice session
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Bernard (ankle/pectoral/personal) did not practice Wednesday, Dorian Alerte of the Bills' official site reports.
Bernard left Sunday's win over the Titans twice, once due to a head injury (he was cleared) and the second time due to the ankle issue, which now has him sidelined to start the week's practice slate along with apparent pectoral and personal reasons. Bernard is a tackle monster when healthy -- he accrued 143 of them last season -- but his status appears to be in jeopardy for this week's game in Seattle.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Won't return vs. Tennessee
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Bernard (ankle) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Titans.
Bernard left Sunday's game for a second time due to an ankle injury, which is severe enough for him to be sidelined for the rest of the game. He'll end his day with eight tackles (six solo) and one fumble recovery. Baylon Spector will step in as the Bills' middle linebacker with Bernard out for the game.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Returns vs. Tennessee
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Bernard (head) has returned to Sunday's game against the Titans.
Bernard briefly left Sunday's game while being evaluated for a head injury, but he is back on the field. He's logged five solo tackles in the first half alone.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Exits game with head injury
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Bernard is being evaluated for a head injury and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Titans.
Bernard sustained the injury during the second quarter of Sunday's game. Baylon Spector is the next man up at middle linebacker alongside Dorian Williams and Nicholas Morrow for as long as Bernard is sidelined.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Officially active
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Bernard (pectoral) is active Week 5 against the Texans.
Bernard will suit up for the first time since the Week 2 early exit against Miami, and given his role as the middle linebacker and the fact he recorded 11 combined tackles in Week 1, he immediately returns to the IDP radar.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Back on practice field
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Bernard (pectoral) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report.
Bernard was working on the side during practice last week, so this seems like a step in the right direction for the Baylor product. The likelihood of him suiting up this Sunday against the Texans will be clearer if he can turn in a full practice Thursday or Friday.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Downgraded to out
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Bernard (pectoral) has been downgraded to out for the rest of Thursday's game against the Dolphins, Henry McKenna of FoxSports.com reports.
The starting middle linebacker left the game in the first quarter after making two tackles. Bernard led Buffalo with 11 tackles in Week 1 against Arizona. Baylon Spector, the Bills' backup middle linebacker, has seven tackles in Thursday's game.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Questionable to return
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Bernard (pectoral) is questionable to return to Thursday's game against the Dolphins, Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.
The starting middle linebacker made two tackles before exiting. Bernard led the Bills with 11 tackles in the team's Week 1 win over Arizona. Baylon Spector is the next man up on the depth chart.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Tackling machine in Week 1 victory
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Bernard led the Bills with 11 total tackles in Sunday's 34-28 win over the Cardinals.
Bernard posted a whopping 143 tackles last season, his first as a starter, and he's picked right up where he left off. With Matt Milano out for a good chunk of the season with a biceps injury, it would be a surprise if Bernard didn't lead the Bills in tackles, barring injury, and perhaps by a good margin. He's become a leader of this defense in just his third season and could end up being one of the league's better IDPs in 2024 if your format places a heavy weighting on tackles.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Moves past ankle issue
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Bernard, who missed the Bills' Jan. 21 playoff loss to the Chiefs due to an ankle injury, feels very good health-wise at this stage of the offseason, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.
Prior to suffering his injury in the Bills' wild-card win over the Steelers on Jan. 15, Bernard racked up 143 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three interceptions in 17 regular-season contests. Now that his ankle has had time to heal up, the 2022 third-rounder is set to reprise his role as Buffalo's starting middle linebacker, which puts the 24-year-old in a position to remain a viable lineup option in IDP formats this coming season.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Trending in wrong direction
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Bernard (ankle) is a game-time decision for Sunday's divisional-round game against the Chiefs, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
The Bills will give Bernard a chance to go through warmups and prove he's healthy enough to play, but Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network stated that Bernard will likely sit out after missing practice all week. Bernard is a key part of this defense, as he posted 143 tackles (84 solo), 6.5 sacks, five pass breakups and three interceptions over 17 games during the regular season. A.J. Klein -- who posted 11 stops in the wild-card round -- is expected to start at middle linebacker if Bernard can't go.
