Reggie Bush facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids
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:

205 lb (93 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

Reggie Bush (born March 2, 1985) is a former American football player. He was a talented running back known for his speed and agility. Bush played college football for the USC Trojans. He was considered one of the best college football players ever.

In 2005, he won the prestigious Heisman Trophy. This award goes to the most outstanding player in college football. After college, the New Orleans Saints picked him second overall in the 2006 NFL draft. He helped the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. Bush also played for the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Buffalo Bills. He retired from professional football in 2017.

During his college career, there were questions about whether he received gifts that were against NCAA rules. This led to a big investigation. As a result, USC faced penalties, and Bush gave back his Heisman Trophy in 2010. However, in April 2024, the Heisman Trophy was given back to him. This happened because college football rules about players earning money had changed.

Early Life and High School Football
College Football Career
Professional Football Career
NFL Career Statistics
- Regular season
Personal Life
- Media and Other Work
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and High School Football

Reggie Bush was born in 1985 in Spring Valley, California. He played running back at Helix High School in La Mesa, California. He was a standout player there.

At Helix, he played alongside Alex Smith, who also became a famous football player. Both Bush and Smith were finalists for the Heisman Trophy in 2004. This was the first time two players from the same high school were Heisman finalists in the same year.

Reggie was also a talented track athlete in high school. He was very fast, running the 100 meters in 10.42 seconds. This speed helped him a lot in football.

College Football Career

Reggie Bush playing for the USC Trojans in 2005

Reggie Bush went to the University of Southern California (USC) on a scholarship. He played for the USC Trojans from 2003 to 2005. His coach, Pete Carroll, saw that Reggie could do many things on the field. He could run, catch, and return kicks.

As a freshman in 2003, Reggie was named an All-American. He set a USC freshman record with 1,331 all-purpose yards. This means he gained yards by running, catching, and returning kicks.

In 2004, Reggie finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He gained 908 rushing yards and 509 receiving yards. He also returned kicks and punts for many yards. He became the first USC player since Marcus Allen to lead the Pac-10 conference in all-purpose yards.

Winning the Heisman Trophy

The 2005 season was amazing for Reggie Bush. He was named an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy. He also won other major awards like the Walter Camp Award and the Doak Walker Award. These awards recognize the best players in college football.

Reggie led the nation with an average of 222.3 all-purpose yards per game. He set a Pac-10 record by gaining 513 all-purpose yards in one game against Fresno State. He was also known for the "Bush Push" play. This happened when he helped push a teammate into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown against Notre Dame.

He finished his junior year with 1,740 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had 481 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Even though he only started 14 games in his college career, he gained over 6,500 all-purpose yards.

Heisman Trophy Controversy and Reinstatement

After his college career, questions arose about whether Reggie Bush's family received gifts that were against NCAA rules. The NCAA is the organization that sets rules for college sports.

In 2010, the NCAA announced penalties against USC. They found that Bush had received gifts. As a result, USC had to give up some of its wins, including the 2004 national championship. USC was also banned from bowl games for two years and lost scholarships.

Because of this, Reggie Bush voluntarily gave back his Heisman Trophy in 2010. USC also removed his jerseys and murals from their facilities. This was a difficult time for Reggie and the school.

However, college football rules began to change. In 2021, the NCAA allowed players to make money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This meant players could now earn money from endorsements and other deals.

With these changes, Reggie Bush started working to get his Heisman Trophy back. Many people, including other Heisman winners, supported him. In April 2023, billboards appeared in Los Angeles asking for his Heisman to be returned. He even filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in August 2023 to help his cause.

Finally, on April 24, 2024, the Heisman Trust announced that Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy would be returned to him. They said this was due to the "enormous changes in the college football landscape." USC also put his banner back up at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

College Awards and Recognition

Won the 2005 Walter Camp Award and the 2005 Doak Walker Award.
Won the Heisman Trophy in 2005, which was reinstated in 2024.
Featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in December 2005.
Featured on the cover of NCAA Football 2007 video game.
Ranked No. 24 on ESPN's 25 Greatest Players in College Football list.

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 Trojans	13	90	521	5.8	3	15	314	20.9	4	18	492	27.3	1	2	4	2.0	0
2004	USC Trojans	13	143	908	6.3	6	43	509	11.8	7	21	537	25.6	0	24	376	15.7	2
2005	USC Trojans	13	200	1,740	8.7	16	37	478	12.9	2	28	493	17.6	0	18	179	9.9	1
Total		39	433	3,169	7.3	25	95	1,301	13.7	13	67	1522	22.7	1	44	559	12.7	3

Professional Football Career

Reggie Bush decided to enter the NFL Draft after his junior year at USC. Many experts thought he would be the first player picked. However, the Houston Texans chose another player. The New Orleans Saints then drafted Bush with the second overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Bush quickly became a popular player. He signed endorsement deals with big companies like Pepsi and Adidas. He also showed his commitment to New Orleans, a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. He donated money to help a local school.

New Orleans Saints (2006–2010)

Reggie Bush's rookie season with the Saints had its ups and downs. He showed flashes of his amazing talent. In December 2006, he tied a Saints record by scoring four touchdowns in one game against the San Francisco 49ers. He also had a career-high 126 rushing yards against the New York Giants.

In the 2006 playoffs, he helped the Saints reach the NFC Championship Game. He scored an 88-yard touchdown catch in that game.

In 2008, Bush was named a First-Team All-Pro as a punt returner. He tied an NFL record by returning two punts for touchdowns in a single game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Reggie Bush playing for the Saints in 2009

The 2009 season was a special one for Bush and the Saints. He played a key role in their journey to the Super Bowl. In a playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals, he had an 84-yard rushing touchdown and an 83-yard punt return touchdown. These were both long scores for the Saints in the postseason.

On February 7, 2010, Reggie Bush and the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV. They defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31–17. This was the first Super Bowl victory in Saints history.

The 2010 season was challenging for Bush. He dealt with injuries and the ongoing controversy about his Heisman Trophy. He played in eight games that year.

Miami Dolphins (2011–2012)

Reggie Bush with the Miami Dolphins in 2012

In 2011, the Saints traded Reggie Bush to the Miami Dolphins. He had a great first season with the Dolphins. He rushed for over 100 yards in several games. In Week 15, he had a career-high 203 rushing yards against the Buffalo Bills. For the first time in his NFL career, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season, finishing with 1,086 yards.

In 2012, he continued to be a strong runner for the Dolphins. He had 172 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders. He finished the season with 986 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

Detroit Lions (2013–2014)

Reggie Bush signed with the Detroit Lions in 2013. He was expected to be a major part of their offense. In his first game with the Lions, he gained 191 yards from scrimmage. He had another 1,000-yard rushing season, finishing with 1,006 yards. He also had 506 receiving yards.

In 2014, his production decreased slightly. He still contributed to the team, which made the playoffs. He scored a rushing touchdown in their playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions released him in February 2015.

San Francisco 49ers (2015)

In 2015, Bush signed with the San Francisco 49ers. His season was cut short due to an injury. He slipped on concrete near the field during a game and tore a ligament in his knee. He later won a lawsuit related to this injury.

Buffalo Bills (2016)

Reggie Bush playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2016

Reggie Bush signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2016. He played a smaller role on the team. He scored one rushing touchdown that season.

Retirement and Hall of Fame

On December 15, 2017, Reggie Bush announced his retirement from the NFL. He finished his career with 5,490 rushing yards, 3,598 receiving yards, and 58 total touchdowns.

In June 2019, he was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.

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

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.

Media and Other Work

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

Reggie Bush has appeared in music videos and advertising campaigns. He was in a video for singer Ciara in 2007. He also teamed up with soccer star David Beckham for an Adidas ad series.

Reggie Bush in 2021

He was nominated for Male Athlete of the Year at the BET Awards in 2007 and 2009.

Reggie Bush has also done charity work. He supported organizations that help Haiti and diamond-producing countries in Africa. He worked with the Diamond Empowerment Fund to raise money for education.

After retiring from playing, Bush became a college football analyst for Fox Sports. He appeared on their Big Noon Kickoff show. He left the show in 2023.

In October 2022, he signed a deal to be an ambassador for the golf brand Srixon.

In September 2024, it was reported that he was suing his former school, the Pac-12 Conference, and the NCAA. This lawsuit was about the use of his name, image, and likeness without his permission or payment.