Isaac Bruce facts for kids
Bruce in 2013
|
|||||||
| No. 80, 88 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | November 10, 1972 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 188 lb (85 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) | ||||||
| College: |
|
||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1994 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
|
Pro Football Hall of Fame
|
|||||||
Isaac Bruce, born on November 10, 1972, is a famous American football player. He used to play as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). The Los Angeles Rams picked him in the 1994 NFL draft. Before that, he played college football for different teams, including the Memphis Tigers.
Isaac Bruce was a four-time Pro Bowl player. He also made the All-Pro Team. During his career, he gained 15,208 receiving yards. This is one of the highest totals in NFL history. He played for the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams for 14 years. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers. While with the Rams, he was a key player in their offense, known as "The Greatest Show on Turf". In 2020, Isaac Bruce was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Isaac Bruce was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He went to Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale. He graduated from high school in 1990. In his senior year, he caught 39 passes for 644 yards. He was chosen for the All-County team. He helped his team win the 1989 Florida State 4-A Championship.
College Football Journey
Bruce first planned to play college football for the Purdue Boilermakers. However, his test scores were too low for Purdue. So, he decided to attend West Los Angeles College. After that, he went to Santa Monica College. Later, he transferred to the Memphis State University. There, he played alongside another future NFL receiver, Russell Copeland.
Playing for the Memphis Tigers
In 1992, his first year at Memphis, Bruce had 39 catches for 532 yards. He also scored five touchdowns. In 1993, he became the first wide receiver at Memphis to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. He finished that season with a school record of 74 catches for 1,054 yards. He also scored 10 touchdowns. He earned a degree in physical education from Memphis. He is the only player from Memphis to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Isaac Bruce was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He was the 33rd player chosen overall. He signed his first contract with the Rams in July 1994. He quickly showed his talent. He was named the Rams' Rookie of the Year in 1994. His very first NFL catch was a 34-yard touchdown pass.
Moving to St. Louis
In 1995, the Rams team moved to St. Louis. Bruce moved with them. That year, he had an amazing season. He caught 119 passes for 1,781 yards. This was the second-highest total in NFL history at the time. It is still the fifth-highest single-season total ever. He broke several Rams' records that year. These included most receiving yards and most catches in a season. He also had six games in a row with over 100 receiving yards. Bruce was almost chosen for the Pro Bowl that year.
In 1996, Bruce led the NFL with 1,338 receiving yards. He became the first Rams receiver in years to have two 1,000-yard seasons in a row. He was finally voted to his first Pro Bowl.
Super Bowl Champion
In 1999, Bruce had another great season. He caught 77 passes for 1,165 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Rams had a fantastic 13–3 record. They made it to the Super Bowl. Bruce was a Second-team All-Pro and went to his second Pro Bowl. In Super Bowl XXXIV, Bruce caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner. This gave the Rams a 23–16 lead. It turned out to be the winning score for the Super Bowl.
After winning the Super Bowl, Bruce continued to play at a high level. In 2000, he was a Pro Bowler again. He caught 87 passes for 1,471 yards and 9 touchdowns. He and his teammate Torry Holt both gained over 1,400 yards that season. This was a rare achievement for two receivers on the same team.
In 2001, the Rams returned to the Super Bowl. They lost to the New England Patriots. Bruce made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. He became the Rams' all-time leader in 100-yard receiving games. He also became the leader in 1,000-yard seasons and receiving touchdowns.
Bruce continued to set records for the Rams. In 2002, he became the Rams' all-time leader in receptions. In 2003, he became the Rams' all-time leader in receiving yards. He passed his former position coach, Henry Ellard.
By 2007, Bruce had passed James Lofton to become third on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list. On February 28, 2008, the Rams released Bruce.
Time with the San Francisco 49ers
On February 29, 2008, Isaac Bruce signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He joined his former coach, Mike Martz. He chose to wear number 88, even though Jerry Rice offered him permission to wear his retired number 80.
On December 21, 2008, Bruce played against his old team, the St. Louis Rams. In that game, he caught his 1,000th career reception. It was a 3-yard touchdown catch. The St. Louis fans cheered loudly for their former star player.
Bruce played one more season with the 49ers in 2009. He wanted to help the team reach the playoffs and win a Super Bowl. On June 7, 2010, Bruce was traded back to the Rams. This allowed him to retire as a Ram. He was the last player from the original Los Angeles Rams team to retire.
NFL Career Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 1994 | LAR | 12 | 0 | 21 | 272 | 13.0 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | STL | 16 | 16 | 119 | 1,781 | 15.0 | 72 | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| 1996 | STL | 16 | 16 | 84 | 1,338 | 15.9 | 70 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 | STL | 12 | 12 | 56 | 815 | 14.6 | 59 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | STL | 5 | 5 | 32 | 457 | 14.3 | 80 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | STL | 16 | 16 | 77 | 1,165 | 15.1 | 60 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | STL | 16 | 16 | 87 | 1,471 | 16.9 | 78 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | STL | 16 | 16 | 64 | 1,106 | 17.3 | 51 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 | STL | 16 | 16 | 79 | 1,075 | 13.6 | 34 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 2003 | STL | 15 | 15 | 69 | 981 | 14.2 | 41 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | STL | 16 | 16 | 89 | 1,292 | 14.5 | 56 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 2005 | STL | 11 | 10 | 36 | 525 | 14.6 | 46 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | STL | 16 | 13 | 74 | 1,098 | 14.8 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | STL | 14 | 12 | 55 | 733 | 13.3 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | SF | 16 | 15 | 61 | 835 | 13.7 | 63 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | SF | 10 | 7 | 21 | 264 | 12.6 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 223 | 201 | 1,024 | 15,208 | 14.9 | 80 | 91 | 15 | 10 | |
Awards and Achievements
- 2020 - Chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- 2010 - His jersey number 80 was retired by the Rams.
- 2009 – Second wide receiver in NFL history to gain over 15,000 receiving yards.
- 2008 – Reached 1,000 receptions in his career.
- 1999 – Super Bowl XXXIV champion.
- 1996 – Led the league in receiving yards.
- 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001 – Named to play in the Pro Bowl.
- 1995 – Recorded 119 receptions, a record for a player aged 25 or younger.
- 1994 – Named Rams Rookie of the Year.
Personal Life
Isaac Bruce is a Christian. He was nicknamed "The Reverend" because he thought about becoming a minister after his football career. He also considered becoming a substitute teacher.
Bruce is married to Clegzette Bruce. They have two daughters. He is the older cousin of Canadian Football League wide receiver Arland Bruce. He is also the younger cousin of NFL running back Derrick Moore. Bruce is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Helping the Community
Since 1996, Isaac Bruce has given tickets to home games to schools and youth groups. He also worked with Haz-Waste to give jerseys and limousine rides to children. He was a spokesman for United Way and a leader in their African American Leadership Giver program. In 2008, he recorded a public service announcement for the RESPECT! Campaign against domestic violence.
