{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Bug Howard | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | current_team = | number =87 | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|11|28}} | birth_place = Rochelle, Georgia, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lbs = 228 | high_school = Wilcox County<br/>(Rochelle, Georgia) | college = North Carolina (2013–2016) | undraftedyear = 2017 | pastteams = * Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2017}})* * Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2017}}–{{NFL Year|2018}})* * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2018}})* * Atlanta Legends ({{AAF Year|2019}}) * Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})* * Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2020}})* * Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2021}})* * Philadelphia Stars ({{USFL Year|2022}}) * Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2022}})* * Philadelphia Stars ({{USFL Year|2023}}) | status = | highlights = | pfr = HowaBu00 }}
'''Johnathan''' "'''Bug'''" '''Howard'''<ref>{{cite web|title=UNC Football: Get to Know Johnathan 'Bug' Howard|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VHziM1e_eY|website=YouTube.com|publisher=UNC Tar Heels Athletics|access-date=September 30, 2017}}</ref> (born November 28, 1994) is an American former football tight end. He played college football at North Carolina.
==Early life== Howard, who was given the nickname "Bug" by his grandmother when he was a toddler, attended Wilcox County High School in Rochelle, Georgia.<ref name="colts">{{cite web|title=Indianapolis Colts: Bug Howard|url=http://www.colts.com/team/roster/bug-howard/ee587626-5bbd-4912-b1c7-bc9698d7fc71/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001031434/http://www.colts.com/team/roster/bug-howard/ee587626-5bbd-4912-b1c7-bc9698d7fc71/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2017|website=Colts.com|publisher=Indianapolis Colts|access-date=September 26, 2017}}</ref>
==College career== Howard caught 22 passes in his freshman season at North Carolina.<ref name="profile">{{cite news|last1=Ferenchick|first1=Matt|title=Tar Heels NFL Draft Profile: Bug Howard|url=https://www.tarheelblog.com/2017/4/16/15310774/bug-howard-nfl-draft-projections-mock-draft-north-carolina-tar-heels|access-date=September 30, 2017|work=Tar Heel Blog|date=April 16, 2017}}</ref> Howard scored the first touchdown of the 2015 college football season, his junior year, when he caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Marquise Williams in their game against the South Carolina Gamecocks.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fornelli|first1=Tom|title=UNC's Bug Howard scores 1st TD of 2015 college football season|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/uncs-bug-howard-scores-1st-td-of-2015-college-football-season/|access-date=September 30, 2017|work=CBSSports.com|date=September 3, 2015}}</ref>
In his four-year career at UNC, Howard played in 46 games. He caught 146 passes for 2,048 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bug Howard, North Carolina, Wide Receiver|url=https://247sports.com/Player/Bug-Howard-16156|access-date=September 30, 2017|work=247Sports.com}}</ref> He had just four dropped passes in four seasons at UNC.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zierlein|first1=Lance|title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles – Bug Howard|url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/bug-howard?id=2558291|access-date=September 30, 2017|work=NFL.com}}</ref>
===Statistics=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year || Team ! GP || Rec || Yds || Avg || TD |- | 2013 | North Carolina | 10 || 22 || 278 || 12.6 || 4 |- | 2014 | North Carolina | 12 || 42 || 455 || 10.8 || 2 |- | 2015 | North Carolina | 12 || 29 || 488 || 16.8 || 4 |- | 2016 | North Carolina | 12 || 53 || 827 || 15.6 || 8 |- ! colspan=2 | Career | 46 || 146 || 2,048 || 14.0 || 18 |}
==Professional career== ===Indianapolis Colts=== After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft, Howard was signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bondurant|first1=Tanya|title=North Carolina wide receiver Bug Howard signs with Indianapolis Colts as undrafted free agent|url=https://www.tarheelblog.com/2017/4/29/15488890/2017-nfl-draft-results-bug-howard-indianapolis-colts-undrafted-free-agent-tar-heels|access-date=September 30, 2017|work=Tar Heel Blog|date=April 29, 2017}}</ref> He was waived by the Colts at the end of the 2017 preseason.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ites|first1=Andrew|title=Colts Announce Full List of Roster Cuts|url=https://horseshoeheroes.com/2017/09/02/indianapolis-colts-announce-full-list-roster-cuts/|access-date=September 30, 2017|work=Horseshoe Heroes|date=September 2, 2017}}</ref>
===Cleveland Browns=== On September 26, 2017, Howard was signed to the Cleveland Browns' practice squad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Browns sign WR Bug Howard to practice squad|url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-sign-WR-Bug-Howard-to-practice-squad/5c415f65-1d73-44d7-9a33-ec44fac66dfe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408011403/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-sign-WR-Bug-Howard-to-practice-squad/5c415f65-1d73-44d7-9a33-ec44fac66dfe|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2018|access-date=September 30, 2017|work=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=September 26, 2017}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract with the Browns on January 1, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Browns sign eight players|url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-sign-eight-players/20a31eb8-ce5e-4c5a-b057-0175ee839419|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408233929/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-sign-eight-players/20a31eb8-ce5e-4c5a-b057-0175ee839419|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2018|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=January 1, 2018}}</ref> He was waived by the Browns on April 12, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Browns release 7 players|url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-release-7-players/66bb8ce1-785f-4839-8fd5-b35fc0c21fd4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616103806/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-release-7-players/66bb8ce1-785f-4839-8fd5-b35fc0c21fd4|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2018|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>
===Carolina Panthers=== On May 14, 2018, Howard signed with the Carolina Panthers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panthers sign four tryouts, waive Zack Sanchez|url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-sign-four-tryouts-waive-Zack-Sanchez/2d9e6a71-6e1e-41eb-a432-e5f9dde06198|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516103045/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-sign-four-tryouts-waive-Zack-Sanchez/2d9e6a71-6e1e-41eb-a432-e5f9dde06198|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 16, 2018|author=Henson, Max|website=Panthers.com|date=May 14, 2018}}</ref> He was waived on August 31, 2018, as part of final roster cuts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panthers announce first wave of cuts|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-announce-first-wave-of-cuts|author=Henson, Max|website=Panthers.com|date=August 31, 2018}}</ref>
===Atlanta Legends=== On November 9, 2018, Howard signed with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) for the 2019 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=32 Players Sign New Contracts with the Alliance|url=https://aaf.com/32-players-sign-new-contracts-with-the-alliance/|website=AAF.com|date=November 9, 2018|access-date=November 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110120134/https://aaf.com/32-players-sign-new-contracts-with-the-alliance/|archive-date=November 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Denver Broncos=== After the AAF ceased operations in April 2019, Howard signed with the Denver Broncos on May 13, 2019, following a mini-camp tryout.<ref>{{cite news |author=DiLalla, Aric |title=Broncos sign four players as OTAs begin |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-four-players-as-otas-begin |website=DenverBroncos.com |date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on August 21, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Broncos place Horace Richardson, Bug Howard on injured reserve|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-place-horace-richardson-bug-howard-on-injured-reserve|author=DiLalla, Aric|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=August 21, 2019}}</ref> He was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement on August 30, 2019. He was re-signed to the practice squad on December 4, 2019. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Broncos on December 31, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Broncos sign 15 players to future contracts, claim NT Joel Heath off waivers|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-15-players-to-future-contracts-claim-nt-joel-heath-off-waivers|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=December 31, 2019|access-date=January 1, 2020|archive-date=January 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101222437/https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-15-players-to-future-contracts-claim-nt-joel-heath-off-waivers|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was waived on April 27, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Broncos waive four players following 2020 NFL Draft|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-waive-four-players-following-2020-nfl-draft|author=DiLalla, Aric|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=April 27, 2020}}</ref>
Howard joined the Alphas of The Spring League for its 2020 Fall season.<ref>{{cite news |author=Keatley, Josh |title=Former Browns to watch in The Spring League |url=https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2020/10/27/former-browns-to-watch-spring-league-sheehy-guiseppi/ |website=USAToday.com |date=October 27, 2020 |access-date=November 3, 2020}}</ref>
=== Jacksonville Jaguars === On December 14, 2020, Howard signed with the practice squad of the Jacksonville Jaguars.<ref>{{cite news |author=Johnson |first=James |date=December 14, 2020 |title=Jags sign TE Bug Howard, DE Aaron Patrick along with other transactions |url=https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2020/12/14/jags-sign-te-bug-howard-de-aaron-patrick-along-with-other-transactions/ |access-date=January 27, 2021 |website=Jaguars Wire|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 11, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Five have contract expire |url=https://www.fantasyguru.com/jaguars-five-have-contract-expire/ |website=FantasyGuru.com |date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref>
===Buffalo Bills=== On July 30, 2021, Howard signed with the Buffalo Bills.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bills sign tight end Bug Howard |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-tight-end-bug-howard |website=BuffaloBills.com |date=July 30, 2021 |access-date=July 30, 2021}}</ref> He was waived on August 24, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Five players released by the Bills to reach the 80-man roster limit|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/five-players-released-by-the-bills-to-reach-the-80-man-roster-limit|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=August 24, 2021}}</ref>
===Philadelphia Stars=== Howard was drafted by the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL) in the 18th round of the 2022 USFL draft.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Welcome to Philly, @ThaBugMan! #USFLDraft |number=1496581007176261633 |date=February 23, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2022}}</ref> He was placed on the "did not report" list on April 1,<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Some roster updates for your Philadelphia Stars |number=1509864942895190017 |date=April 1, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2022}}</ref> but joined the team for training camp three days later.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Monday roster updates |number=1511113209419223040 |date=April 4, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2022}}</ref> He signed a contract with the team on April 7.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Roster updates |number=1512198553497612302 |date=April 7, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2022}}</ref>
===Tampa Bay Buccaneers=== On July 29, 2022, Howard signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bucs Sign TE Bug Howard|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-sign-tight-end-bug-howard-waive-sterling-hofrichter-roster-moves|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729140946/https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-sign-tight-end-bug-howard-waive-sterling-hofrichter-roster-moves|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was waived/injured on August 23 and placed on injured reserve.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bug Howard Waived as Bucs Get to 80|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-waive-tight-end-bug-howard-training-camp-2022-roster-moves|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=August 23, 2022}}</ref> He was released on August 30.
===Philadelphia Stars (second stint)=== On February 8, 2023, Howard signed with the Stars for his second stint with the team.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Free Agent Signings |number=1623370905912213506 |date=February 8, 2023 |access-date=February 8, 2023}}</ref> He was transferred to the team's inactive list on March 19, 2023.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Transferred to Inactive List |number=1637597991262638081|date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=March 20, 2023}}</ref> The Stars folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=January 1, 2024 |title=Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/39222541/newly-formed-united-football-league-sets-8-markets-tabs-coaches |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
===Statistics=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+USFL statistics<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Stars Team Stats |url=https://www.foxsports.com/usfl/philadelphia-stars-team-stats |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=foxsports.com |language=en}}</ref> ! rowspan="2" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Team ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="5" | Receiving ! colspan="2" | Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost |- ! 2022 !! PHI | 10 || 8 || 30 || 371 || 12.4 || 41 || 4 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" | Career || 10 || 8 || 30 || 371 || 12.4 || 41 || 4 || 0 || 0 |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Bug}} Category:Living people Category:1994 births Category:People from Rochelle, Georgia Category:Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football players Category:Indianapolis Colts players Category:Cleveland Browns players Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:Atlanta Legends players Category:Denver Broncos players Category:The Spring League players Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players Category:Buffalo Bills players Category:Philadelphia Stars (2022) players Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players