Bernard Berrian
A deep-threat receiver whose blazing speed stretched NFL defenses and delivered some of the Chicago Bears' most electrifying plays of the mid-2000s.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American football player·Birthday: December 27·Generation X
Biography
Bernard Berrian emerged from Fresno State, where his All-American season in 2001 showcased a rare combination of track-star speed and reliable hands. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2004, he became the essential vertical element in an otherwise ground-oriented offense. His ability to take the top off a defense was a key, if understated, factor in the Bears' run to Super Bowl XLI. A lucrative free-agent move to the Minnesota Vikings followed, where he paired with quarterback Brett Favre for several prolific seasons. While never a volume-catch possession receiver, Berrian's career was defined by the constant threat of the home-run ball, forcing secondaries to play deep and creating space for his teammates. His legacy is one of pure, game-altering velocity.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Bernard was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bernard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Bernard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned first-team All-American honors in 2001 as a wide receiver for Fresno State University.
- Selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
- Recorded a career-high 964 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns for the Bears in 2006, a season that culminated in a Super Bowl appearance.
- Averaged a career-best 20.1 yards per reception in 2007, highlighting his role as a premier deep threat.
- Signed a six-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 2008 as a key free-agent acquisition.
Did You Know?
He was a standout track athlete in high school, competing in the 100-meter dash and long jump.
Berrian scored the first touchdown of Super Bowl XLI on a kickoff return, though it was called back due to a penalty.
His 99-yard touchdown reception from Gus Frerotte in 2008 is one of the longest passing plays in NFL history.
He played college football under coach Pat Hill, known for a tough, physical style of play.
“Speed is a weapon, but you have to catch the ball first.”
