Reggie Bush facts for kids

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Reggie Bush

Bush in 2023

No. 25, 22, 21, 23

Position:

Running back

Personal information

Born:

March 2, 1985 (age 40)
Spring Valley, California, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)

Weight:

203 lb (92 kg)

Career information

High school:

Helix (La Mesa, California)

College:

USC (2003–2005)

NFL Draft:

2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2

Career history

Career highlights and awards

Super Bowl champion (XLIV)
First-team All-Pro (2008)
NFL PFWA All-Rookie Team (2006)
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
BCS national champion (2004)
2× AP National champion (2003, 2004)
Heisman Trophy (2005)
Walter Camp Award (2005)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2005)
Sporting News Player of the Year (2005)
2× Chic Harley Award (2004, 2005)
Doak Walker Award (2005)
Jim Brown Trophy (2005)
2× Consensus All-American (2004, 2005)
2× Pac-10 Offensive Player of the year (2004, 2005)
2× First-team All-Pac-10 (2004, 2005)
USC Trojans No. 5 retired

Career NFL statistics

Rushing attempts:	1,286
Rushing yards:	5,490
Receptions:	477
Receiving yards:	3,598
Return yards:	929
Total touchdowns:	58

Player stats at PFR

College Football Hall of Fame

Reginald Alfred Bush III (born March 2, 1985) is a former professional football running back. He played college football for the USC Trojans. He was named an All-American twice and won the 2005 Heisman Trophy. Many people think Bush is one of the best college football players ever.

The New Orleans Saints picked him second overall in the 2006 NFL draft. Bush was named an All-Pro punt returner in 2008. He won Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 with the Saints. He also played for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers. He retired from professional football in 2017. Later, Bush worked as a college football analyst for Fox Sports.

There was an investigation by the NCAA into the USC football program. This led to serious penalties for the school. These included a two-year ban from postseason games. The NCAA also removed the 2004 national championship title from USC. Bush gave up his Heisman Trophy in 2010 because of this. However, 14 years later, his Heisman Trophy was given back to him due to new NCAA rules.

Reggie Bush's Early Life
Reggie Bush's College Football Career
Reggie Bush's Professional Football Career
Reggie Bush's NFL Career Statistics
- Regular Season
Reggie Bush's Personal Life
- Reggie Bush's Media Career
Images for kids
See also

Reggie Bush's Early Life

Reggie Bush was born in 1985 in Spring Valley, California. He played running back at Helix High School in La Mesa, California. While at Helix, he played with Alex Smith, who also became a famous football player. Bush won the Silver Pigskin trophy, a special award for high school players.

He was also a great track athlete at Helix. He ran the 100 meters in 10.42 seconds. This was one of the fastest times for a high school football player in the nation.

Reggie Bush's College Football Career

Reggie Bush at USC's 2004 BCS National Championship celebration.

Bush received a scholarship to play for the USC Trojans. He played there from 2003 to 2005. His coach, Pete Carroll, wanted to use him in many ways. Bush was good at running, catching, throwing, and returning the ball.

In 2003, he was named a first-team Freshman All-American. He led the Pacific-10 Conference in kickoff returns. He set a USC freshman record with 1,331 all-purpose yards.

In 2004, Bush finished fifth in the Heisman voting. He was named the team's MVP. He gained 908 rushing yards and 509 receiving yards. He also returned kicks and punts for many yards. He led the Pac-10 in all-purpose yards with 2,330.

In 2005, Bush was named an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy. He also won the Walter Camp Award and the Doak Walker Award. These awards go to the best college football players. He led the nation with 222.3 all-purpose yards per game. He set a Pac-10 record with 513 all-purpose yards in one game. This was against the Fresno State Bulldogs. He also became famous for the "Bush Push." This was a game-winning play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Bush led the Trojans with 1,740 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2005. He also had 481 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He returned punts and kickoffs for more yards.

He started only 14 games in his 39 games at USC. But he finished with 6,541 all-purpose yards, which was a lot in NCAA history. He had 3,169 rushing yards and 1,301 receiving yards. He also returned many kicks and punts.

Reggie Bush's College Legacy

By the end of 2005, Bush had 2,611 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy on December 10, 2005. He received many first-place votes. He became the 71st Heisman winner and the seventh USC player to win it.

On January 4, 2006, Bush and Matt Leinart played in the 2006 Rose Bowl. They were the first two Heisman winners to play together in one game. Bush had 279 all-purpose yards in the game. USC lost to the Texas Longhorns.

NCAA Investigation and Heisman Reinstatement

In 2006, there were reports about gifts Bush's family received. The NCAA started an investigation. On June 10, 2010, the NCAA announced major penalties against USC. The NCAA found that Bush had received benefits.

As a result, USC was put on probation for four years. They had to give up their last two wins of the 2004 season. This included the 2005 Orange Bowl. They also had to give up all their wins from the 2005 season. USC was banned from bowl games in 2010 and 2011. They also lost 30 scholarships. The NCAA also required USC to separate itself from Bush.

On July 20, 2010, USC decided to remove all jerseys and murals honoring Bush. They also returned the school's copy of his Heisman Trophy. On September 14, 2010, Bush chose to give up his 2005 Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Trust decided not to name a new winner.

On June 9, 2020, USC announced they would end their separation from Bush. This was after the NCAA's 10-year period ended. In May 2020, Bush said the penalties against USC were "one of the worst feelings in the world."

After the NCAA allowed players to earn money from their name, image, and likeness in 2021, Bush started working to get his Heisman Trophy back. On April 24, 2024, the Heisman Trust announced that Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy was officially reinstated.

College Awards and Recognition

He won the 2005 Walter Camp Award and the 2005 Doak Walker Award.
He won the Heisman Trophy in 2005. He was the first player to give up the award, but it was later reinstated.
In 2005, he was named the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. Offensive Player of the Year.
Bush and Matt Leinart were on the cover of Sports Illustrated in December 2005.
He was featured on the cover of NCAA Football 2007 video game.
ESPN ranked him No. 24 on their list of the 25 Greatest Players in College Football.

College Statistics

Season	Team	GP	Rushing				Receiving				Kick Returns				Punt Returns
Season	Team	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	TD
2003	USC	13	90	521	5.8	3	15	314	20.9	4	18	492	27.3	1	2	4	2.0	0
2004	USC	13	143	908	6.3	6	43	509	11.8	7	21	537	25.6	0	24	376	15.7	2
2005	USC	13	200	1,740	8.7	16	37	478	12.9	2	28	493	17.6	0	18	179	9.9	1
College		39	433	3,169	7.3	25	95	1,301	13.7	13	67	1522	22.7	1	44	559	12.7	3

Reggie Bush's Professional Football Career

On January 12, 2006, Bush decided to leave USC early to enter the NFL Draft. Many thought he would be the first player picked. However, the Houston Texans chose Mario Williams instead. The New Orleans Saints then picked Bush second overall in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Bush wanted to wear number 5, his college number. But NFL rules for running backs require numbers between 20 and 49. He ended up wearing number 25. Bush promised to donate money from jersey sales to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

Bush signed endorsement deals with big companies like Pepsi and Adidas. He was excited to play for the Saints and help New Orleans recover from the hurricane.

New Orleans Saints (2006–2010)

Bush's first NFL season had ups and downs. He became more important to the Saints as the season went on. In his first game, he had 141 total yards. On December 3, 2006, Bush tied a Saints record by scoring four touchdowns in one game. This was against the San Francisco 49ers.

In the 2007 season, Bush missed the last four games due to a knee injury. He finished with six touchdowns and 581 rushing yards.

In 2008, Bush showed great improvement. On October 6, he returned two punts for touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings. This tied an NFL record. He was injured again in October and missed several games. He finished the season with 404 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns in ten games.

Reggie Bush playing for the Saints in 2009

In 2009, Bush had fewer carries due to other running backs on the team. He played in 14 games and scored eight total touchdowns. On January 16, 2010, in a playoff game, Bush had one of his best games. He rushed for 84 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown. He also returned an 83-yard punt for a touchdown. The Saints won 45–14.

Reggie Bush at the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV victory parade.

In the NFC Championship Game, Bush helped the Saints win their first NFC championship. On February 7, 2010, Bush won his first Super Bowl with the Saints. They beat the Indianapolis Colts 31–17.

The 2010 season was difficult for Bush. He broke a bone in his right leg and missed several weeks. He finished the season with 150 rushing yards.

Miami Dolphins (2011–2012)

Reggie Bush with the Miami Dolphins during the 2012 season

On July 28, 2011, the Saints traded Bush to the Miami Dolphins. In Week 15, Bush had a career-high 203 rushing yards against the Buffalo Bills. He also reached 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the first time in his NFL career. He finished the 2011 season with 1,086 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

In 2012, Bush had 172 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He finished the season with 986 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

Detroit Lions (2013–2014)

Bush signed with the Detroit Lions on March 13, 2013. He was expected to be a main running back for the team. In his first game with the Lions, he had 191 yards from scrimmage. In Week 4, he rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown against the Chicago Bears. He finished the 2013 season with 1,006 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also had 506 receiving yards.

In 2014, Bush's production decreased. He finished with 297 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Lions made the playoffs but lost to the Dallas Cowboys. On February 25, 2015, the Lions released Bush.

San Francisco 49ers (2015)

On March 18, 2015, Bush signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He suffered a leg injury in the season opener. On November 1, 2015, he tore a ligament in his left knee during a game. This ended his season. He finished with 28 rushing yards in limited play.

Buffalo Bills (2016)

Reggie Bush playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2016

On August 1, 2016, Bush signed with the Buffalo Bills. He scored his only rushing touchdown with the Bills on October 23, 2016. He finished the season with -3 rushing yards, which was unusual for a running back.

Retirement

On December 15, 2017, Reggie Bush announced he was retiring from the NFL. On June 5, 2019, he was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.

Reggie Bush's NFL Career Statistics

Legend
	Won the Super Bowl
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular Season

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving					Punt returns					Kick returns					Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2006	NO	16	8	155	565	3.6	18	6	88	742	8.4	74	2	28	216	7.7	65	1	—	—	—	—	—	2	2
2007	NO	12	10	157	581	3.7	22	4	73	417	5.7	25	2	3	12	4.0	10	0	—	—	—	—	—	7	3
2008	NO	10	9	106	404	3.8	43	2	52	440	8.5	42	4	20	270	13.5	71	3	—	—	—	—	—	3	2
2009	NO	14	8	70	390	5.6	55	5	47	335	7.1	29	3	27	130	4.8	23	0	—	—	—	—	—	2	1
2010	NO	8	6	36	150	4.2	23	0	34	208	6.1	20	1	14	92	6.6	43	0	1	32	32.0	32	0	0	0
2011	MIA	15	15	216	1,086	5.0	76	6	43	296	6.9	34	1	6	52	8.7	16	0	—	—	—	—	—	4	2
2012	MIA	16	16	227	986	4.3	65	6	35	292	8.3	25	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	2
2013	DET	14	14	223	1,006	4.5	39	4	54	506	9.4	77	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	5	4
2014	DET	11	9	76	297	3.9	26	2	40	253	6.3	28	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0
2015	SF	5	1	8	28	3.5	9	0	4	19	4.8	8	0	2	9	4.5	9	0	—	—	—	—	—	0	0
2016	BUF	13	0	12	−3	−0.3	5	1	7	90	12.9	25	0	2	13	6.5	13	0	5	103	20.6	35	0	1	0
Total		134	96	1,291	5,490	4.3	76	36	477	3,598	7.5	77	18	102	794	7.8	71	4	6	135	22.5	35	0	27	16

Reggie Bush's Personal Life

Reggie Bush married Lilit Avagyan on July 12, 2014. They have three children together. Their daughter, Briseis, was born in 2013. Their sons, Uriah and Agyemang, were born in 2015 and 2017.

Reggie Bush's Media Career

Reggie Bush posing with the USFL's Birmingham Stallion's mascot in 2022

In February 2007, Bush appeared in the music video for Ciara's song, "Like a Boy." In June 2007, he was in a video series with soccer star David Beckham. This was part of an Adidas advertising campaign.

Reggie Bush in 2021

In August 2007, he became a weekly announcer for Sirius Satellite Radio. He was nominated for Male Athlete of the Year at the 2007 and 2009 BET Awards.

Bush also did charity work. He helped raise money for education in Africa. He is a founding member of the Athletes for Africa program.

In 2019, Bush joined Fox Sports as a college football analyst. He appeared on their Big Noon Kickoff pregame show. He left the show in 2023. In October 2022, he signed a deal with the golf brand Srixon.

On September 24, 2024, it was reported that he is suing his former school, the Pac-12 Conference, and the NCAA. He claims they used his name, image, and likeness without his permission or payment.