Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard was a team captain at Logan Wilson’s recent celebrity softball game. Wilson’s game raises money for the Brooks Joshua Anderson Foundation, which helps find research to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
As someone who has experienced the loss of a child, the cause is near and dear to my heart, as is it to Bernard.
In February, we heard the heartbreaking news of Bernard and his wife, Chloe losing their newborn son. Having experienced that pain, it would make sense that he would want to support Wilson’s cause, but it goes a bit deeper than that.
Bernard met with the media before the game and shared that after losing his son, the Bengals were sure to reach out to him to offer support. Bernard’s last season with the team was in 2020, but that didn’t change the relationship he has with those in the building.
Asked Gio Bernard if he considers himself a Bengal for life. His answer points to the close-knit family-like environment in the organization. pic.twitter.com/RBy12hF3nH
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) June 1, 2024
“For sure,” Bernard said when asked if he still feels connected to the Bengals. “To be honest, my family and I, we’ve experienced some tough times recently. One of the reasons why I know I’m a Bengal is because the Bengals were the ones to reach out to me and my family during this tough time.”
“I had coaches reach out to me, players reach out to me, and just something that I’m super grateful for.”
Seeing Bernard back around the team has been fun each of the last two seasons. Bernard worked the crowd well, made a barehanded catch behind home plate and seemed to enjoy helping support not only the Wilsons, but the Andersons as well.
Bernard felt the love from Cincinnati and decided that he should return it, playing in the game and interacting with those he has formed relationships with.
“That was just a stamp on the newsletter that these people care about you, this community cares about you, and you should do the same for them,” he said.
While he may not don the stripes anymore, “Gio” will be a Bengal for life.
