Bug Howard Bio
Johnathan Jamaul “Bug” Howard is an American football receiver from Rochelle, Georgia, who played college football at the University of North Carolina. UNC listed him as a wide receiver, at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, and noted that his nickname came from his mother when he was a toddler. He was born on November 28, 1994, and attended Wilcox County High School, where he became a highly regarded statewide recruit before joining the Tar Heels.
Howard developed into a prominent red-zone and downfield target at North Carolina. He earned honorable-mention All-ACC recognition in 2016 after leading the Tar Heels in receiving touchdowns, and UNC described him as a tall, talented receiver who improved throughout his college career. His collegiate résumé also included touchdown receptions from Marquise Williams and Mitch Trubisky, as well as a strong performance in the 2016 Sun Bowl.
Howard was not selected in the 2017 NFL Draft and entered professional football as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts. He later spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football. During his professional career, he was listed at both wide receiver and tight end. Tampa Bay signed him on July 29, 2022, and waived him injured on August 23, 2022. The retrieved records establish those past affiliations but do not establish a current NFL team as of September 30, 2026.
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- TE