Gary Brightwell Jr. is an American football running back from Chester, Pennsylvania, he plays for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona.
Gary graduated in 2017 from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. During his senior season, he served as team captain and was First-team all-conference and first-team All-State MIAA. He averaged 6.7 yards (6.13 meters) per carry as a senior rushing for 519 yards (474.57 m) and eight touchdowns on 78 carries.
Brightwell was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round, 196th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. On May 13, 2021, Brightwell officially signed with the Giants. On December 30, 2021, Brightwell was placed on Injured reserve after suffering a neck injury.
Brightwell had his first career rushing touchdown in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers in the 27-22 victory.
Brightwell’s father was murdered at a gas station when Brightwell was five months old, his older sister was killed in a car crash when he was a senior in high school and his grandmother who taught him how to play football died just weeks before the NFL draft.