ORCHARD PARK – Terrel Bernard conducted an interview with several reporters Tuesday afternoon while wearing his helmet, complete with visor. No one asked him to remove it, and he didn’t offer, which made the whole interaction a little weird and impersonal but hey, to each his own.
Had he removed the head gear, it would have been easier to recognize the good mood and relaxed state he clearly was in following the second of the Buffalo Bills’ OTA sessions, one where he was a full participant.
It’s a new year for Bernard, with a new defensive coordinator in Jim Leonhard teaching a new defense to him and his teammates, and all of that feels like a much-needed reset for the 27-year-old linebacker.
Terrel Bernard looks to reset after injury-filled season
Bernard admitted the obvious in that 2025 was a rough year for him as he battled injuries that dated all the way back to training camp at St. John Fisher University when he missed time with a pulled hamstring.
Then came an ankle injury that forced him to leave the Week 6 game at Atlanta, one that hampered him for the next several weeks; a hyperextended elbow in Week 12 at Houston that cost him 3 ½ games; and finally the season-ending calf injury in Week 17 against Philadelphia which forced him to miss the postseason. There wasn’t a single moment where Bernard felt 100% and it showed in his play.
Bernard reflects on the toughest season of his career
“It was tough,” Bernard said. “It was probably my hardest year as a football player … just battling through injuries, not feeling like myself for a lot of the year trying to come back, and then having something else pop up.
“I tried to do the best that I could to still be a leader and still be out in front and still be who I am, but it does take a toll on you and it was a tough year for me. I’m trying to flush it and honestly, move on and try to get my body in a position to where I can be effective and go out there and play good football.”
Pressure builds as Terrel Bernard enters first full year of contract extension
A 2022 third-round pick who became a full-time starter in 2023, Bernard signed a hefty contract extension in the spring of 2025 that came with a $23.8 million guarantee, so for him to be unable to live up to that deal – which actually kicks into gear this season – was disheartening.
Obviously, when you sign a contract like that, there’s inherent pressure to perform but Bernard was never really in a position to play up to his standard because his body was so broken down.
He played just 623 defensive snaps – down from 917 in 2024 and 1,031 in 2023 – and his play was inconsistent at best. He struggled with everything – run defense, tackling, and pass coverage – although he did retain his unique ability to create turnovers and he had one interception and two fumble recoveries which raised his career totals to six picks and six recoveries.
“Look, it was obviously a tough year for Terrel Bernard last year, right?” new head coach Joe Brady said. “When you’re injured, he had a ‘C’ on his chest and it was deserved. But it’s hard when you’re not out there. And so I think his leadership has strengthened just from that experience.”
Looking back, Bernard realizes he may have been his own worst enemy trying to play through all the ailments.
“I think for me personally, I’ve grown up a certain way and kind of come under a certain brand of, ‘If I’m able to go, I’m going to go,’ and honestly, realizing now that’s not always the best case scenario for the team and for myself, too,” he said. “That’s a learning area for me as I kind of navigated last year a little bit. The longer you’re in the league, you kind of figure out your body, you figure out what you can and can’t do and what’s productive for the team.”
How Jim Leonhard’s system may benefit Terrel Bernard
Over his first four years with the Bills he was the middle linebacker in Sean McDermott’s defense, but in Leonhard’s 3-4 scheme he’ll have different alignments and responsibilities, and he’s excited about what’s to come.
“I think there’s certain things that fit my play style and things that I’m good at which I’m excited about,” Bernard said. “At the end of the day it’s football and the position is the position, but I feel like there’s certain things that I’ll be able to play within my game and execute a little bit.”
Bernard hinted that he may be used more as a blitzer, something he did quite effectively in 2023, by far his best season when he had 6.5 sacks and 20 QB pressures while recording a team-high 143 tackles. And there may be more opportunities to play man coverage where he’ll be able to use his speed and athleticism more effectively than in McDermott’s heavy zone-based coverage packages.
“We’re just kind of going through basic installs and that type of stuff, but I think the aspect of blitzing, the aspect of being in coverage and having a guy and staying on a guy and being able to flow to the ball,” he said. “I think those are things I’ve been good at in the past and something I look to improve on. And really try to take another step in this defense.
“Anytime you have a new scheme, a new system, there’s going to be different responsibilities and techniques and things that you want to do and things that they want to see you do. Figuring that out as you go through OTAs, as you get through training camp into the preseason and the regular season, I think having that detail and really understanding what they want to see out of us, I feel like that’s where we can improve.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills linebacker embracing fresh start after tough season
Reporting by Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
