Earnest Byner

Former NFL running back and current running backs coach at Out-of-Door Academy.

Earnest Alexander Byner (born September 15, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He is now the running backs coach of Out-of-Door Academy.

Quick Facts

Position: Running back
Born: 15 September 1962
Birthplace: Milledgeville, Georgia, U.S.
Draft year: 1984
Draft pick: 280
High school: Baldwin (Milledgeville)
College: East Carolina

Lore & Background

Byner was a fullback at East Carolina University from 1980 to 1983 where he gained 2,049 yards on 378 carries. Byner was inducted into the East Carolina Hall of Fame in 1998. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the tenth round (280th pick overall) of the 1984 NFL draft. He played for the Browns (1984–1988; 1994–1995), Washington Redskins (1989–1993) and the Baltimore Ravens (1996–1997). Paired with power runner Kevin Mack in the Brown backfield, the pair both gained over 1,000 yards in the 1985 season. Byner helped the Browns reach the AFC Championship game in both 1986 and 1987 seasons, meeting the Denver Broncos in both games. In the 1987 AFC Championship Game he was instrumental in a Browns comeback from a 21–3 deficit. With the score tied at 31 midway through the 4th quarter, the Broncos scored a go-ahead touchdown to make the score 38–31 with six minutes to play. On the next play Byner took the Kosar handoff to run off left tackle. Byner powered past the Bronco line and looked sure to score a game-tying touchdown when Bronco defensive back Jeremiah Castille managed to strip him of the ball. The play, now known simply as 'The Fumble', became the play for which Byner is best remembered. The fumble marred an otherwise impressive performance, as he finished the game with 67 rushing yards, seven receptions for 120 yards, and two touchdowns. Byner played another season with Cleveland before being traded to the Washington Redskins on April 22, 1989 for running back Mike Oliphant. Byner was a Pro Bowl selection in 1990 when he ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,219 yards rushing and in 1991 when he ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,048 yards rushing. In the run to Super Bowl XXVI, Byner carried the ball 45 times for 168 yards while catching four passes for 35 yards, with his one touchdown coming in the Super Bowl versus Buffalo, where he caught a 10-yard pass from Mark Rypien to give Washington a 10–0 lead in the eventual victory that gave Byner a championship. His time with the Redskins earned him a position as one of the franchise's 70 Greatest Redskins. He finished his 14-year NFL career ranked 16th on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 8,261 yards on 2,095 carries with 56 touchdowns.

Reader's Guide

He worked in the Baltimore Ravens front office as the director of player development after retiring as a player. He was the first player to be inducted into the Ravens' Ring of Honor in 2000. In January 2004, Byner was hired to be the running backs coach on Joe Gibbs' staff. He held the same position with the Redskins organization for four seasons. On March 10, 2008, Byner was officially announced as the running backs coach for the Tennessee Titans. He was replaced by the Titans on January 25, 2010, by former running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kennedy Pola. He was named the Jacksonville Jaguars running backs coach on February 4, 2010. He was named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running backs coach on February 19, 2012, but was let go after the 2013 season when the head coach and GM were fired.