A fifth-round pick in 2002, Bernard emerged as a starter during the 2005 season, recording a career-best 8.5 sacks that season along with 52 tackles and 16 tackles for loss. Bernard added two more sacks that postseason in the NFC Championship Game win over the Panthers that sent the Seahawks to the Super Bowl for the first time in team history.  

Bernard spent seven of his 11 NFL seasons with the Seahawks, starting 54 of 103 games played while totaling 29 sacks, 53 tackles for loss and 283 total tackles.