Garrison Hearst Gerard Garrison Hearst ( born January 4 , 1971 ) is a former running back in the National Football League ( NFL ) for ten seasons . He played college football for the University of Georgia , and was recognized as an All - American . A first - round pick by the Phoenix Cardinals , he also played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals , San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos of the NFL . He ran for 1 , 000 yards or more in four different seasons and is one of only two NFL players to have won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award twice . Early years . Garrison Hearst was born in Lincolnton , Georgia . He attended Lincoln County High School in Lincolnton , where he was an all - state running back and broke several records . College career . Hearst attended the University of Georgia , and played for the Georgia Bulldogs football team from 1990 to 1992 , leading the nation in touchdowns ( 21 ) and in scoring ( 11 . 5 points per game ) in his junior year . During his career , he established new school and Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) records for points scored in a season ( 126 ) , total touchdowns ( 21 ) , rushing touchdowns ( 19 ) , and average yards per carry ( 6 . 8 ) * . Hearst was a consensus All - America selection , the Doak Walker Award recipient , ESPN ' s ESPY Winner for Outstanding Collegiate Athlete and SEC Player of the year in 1992 . He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting . Hearst finished his college career second on the Georgia records list in rushing yardage ( 3 , 232 ) , all - purpose yardage ( 3 , 934 ) , and 100 - yard rushing games ( 16 ) ; trailing only Herschel Walker . He also finished third in career rushing touchdowns ( 35 ) . Regarded as an excellent prospect , he was taken in the 1993 NFL Draft third overall by the Arizona Cardinals . Professional career . In Hearst ' s first two seasons with the Cardinals , he was used sparingly . In 1995 , however , he broke out as a pro player , rushing for 1 , 070 yards and earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award honors . However , after the season he was let go and joined the Cincinnati Bengals . He played there one season , gaining 847 yards , but was then picked up by the San Francisco 49ers . San Francisco 49ers . Hearst ' s best years came with the 49ers . In his first year , 1997 , he ran for 1 , 019 yards and four touchdowns , becoming the 49ers ' first 1000 - yard rusher since 1992 ( Ricky Watters ) . The four touchdowns were more than he had scored in his entire pro career before 1997 . Hearst ' s true coming out , however , occurred in 1998 . He ran for 1 , 570 yards and 7 touchdowns while averaging 5 . 1 yards per carry . His total rushing yards placed him third in the NFL , behind only Terrell Davis and Jamal Anderson . Hearst set a then franchise record for rushing yards in a season , breaking the former record held by Roger Craig ( 1 , 502 yards in 1988 ) . The record was broken again in 2006 and is now held by Frank Gore ( 1695 yards ) . His 535 receiving yards gave him a combined 2 , 105 yards on the season , another franchise record previously held by Craig ( 2 , 066 yards in 1985 ) , also now held by Frank Gore ( 2 , 180 yards in 2006 ) . Against the Detroit Lions late in the season , he set a then single - game franchise record of 198 rushing yards , which was later broken by Charlie Garner ( 201 yards ) in 2000 , and currently held by Frank Gore ( 212 yards in 2006 ) . He also had the longest running play in the NFL earlier in the season , when he ran 96 yards for a game - winning touchdown in overtime on Opening Day versus the New York Jets . The play was later featured on NFL Films as one of the best two running plays in NFL history . In 2001 , Hearst won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award . Afterwards . Following the great season by Hearst , he rushed for 128 yards and caught 3 passes for 15 in their wildcard win over the Green Bay Packers . The 49ers next faced the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Playoffs . On the first play from scrimmage , Hearst suffered a gruesome ankle break when his foot was caught in the Georgia Dome turf and twisted severely as he tried to spin away from Falcons ' defensive end Chuck Smith . Doctors said he might not play again , even though the 49ers kept him on their roster as an inactive player . Hearst ran into complications following surgery as circulatory problems choked off the blood supply in the area , leading to Avascular Necrosis , causing the talus bone in his foot to die . Bo Jackson suffered this same condition in his hip and was forced to retire from football . After over two years of rehabilitation , Hearst played football in 2001 and became the first player in NFL history to come back to football after suffering avascular necrosis . He had an excellent season as well , rushing for 1 , 206 yards on a 4 . 8 average . His comeback earned him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award . The 49ers , who were 10 - 22 in 2 seasons without Hearst , went 12 - 4 that year . Hearst remained with the 49ers for two more seasons , but was used less often , the focus of the 49ers ' running game shifting to Kevan Barlow . Hearst still ran for 972 yards and 768 yards in 2002 and 2003 , respectively . Hearst was released during the 49ers ' offseason after the 2003 season , in which the 49ers got rid of many key players . Hearst signed with the Denver Broncos and in his final season , he was considered a " third down specialist " who had eight first downs , and 81 yards on 20 attempts with one touchdown ( 4 . 1 yards / carry ) before being placed on IR with a broken hand . He was not resigned in 2005 . Personal . Hearst is married and has four children . He resides in Georgia . Gay slur controversy . In 2002 , Hearst made inflammatory anti - gay comments to the " Fresno Bee " after Esera Tuaolo came out of the closet . " Aww , hell no ! I don ' t want any faggots on my team . I know this might not be what people want to hear , but that ' s a punk . I don ' t want any faggots in this locker room . " Three weeks later , Hearst apologized for his comments .