Isaac Bruce

Isaac Bruce
No. 80, 88
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: (1972-11-10) November 10, 1972
Place of birth: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school: Fort Lauderdale (FL) Dillard
College: Memphis
NFL draft: 1994 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 1,024
Receiving Yards: 15,208
Receiving TDs: 91
Player stats at NFL.com

Isaac Isidore Bruce (born November 10, 1972) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Memphis.

An All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection, Bruce amassed 15,208 receiving yards in his career (fourth all-time). He played the first 14 years with the Rams and won a Super Bowl ring with the team in Super Bowl XXXIV. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers. During his time with the Rams, he was the leading receiver of The Greatest Show on Turf.

Early years

Bruce was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He graduated from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale in 1990. As a senior, he caught 39 passes for 644 yards (16.5 yards per rec. avg.), was an All-County selection, and led his team to the 1989 Florida State 4-A Championship.

College career

Bruce went to West Los Angeles College, then to Santa Monica College before transferring to the University of Memphis in 1992, where he finished his college football career with 113 receptions for 1,586 yards (14.0 yards per rec. avg.) and 15 touchdowns. He earned a degree in physical education.

Professional career

Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams

Bruce was drafted in the 2nd round (33rd overall) by the Los Angeles Rams. He signed a 3-year $1.75 million contract with the Rams on July 14, 1994. He earned the 1994 Carroll Rosenbloom Award, given to the team rookie of the year. He was also voted Rams Rookie of the Year by Orange County Sports Association and the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association. His first NFL reception was a 34-yard touchdown throw from Chris Miller at Atlanta on September 11, 1994. After that touchdown, when Bruce made a catch, the Rams fans yelled "Bruuuuuuce".

He moved with the team to St. Louis in 1995. In 1995 Bruce was named the NFC's week 1 Special Teams player of the Week after blocking a punt that contributed to a Rams win. He was also the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for week 6 following a 10-catch, 191 yard, 2 TD performance. His total receiving yards for 1995 (119 catches for 1,781 yards) was second only to Jerry Rice's then record of 1,848 yards for one season, and third overall after Rice's 1995 season and the current record-holder Calvin Johnson's 2012 season. In accomplishing this feat Isaac Bruce surpassed former Houston Oilers WR Charley Hennigan’s 34-year-old record of 1,746 set in 1961. Bruce's 119 catches also ranks ninth on the NFL’s all-time single-season reception list. Bruce further broke four Rams’ records, including most receiving yards, most receptions, most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (6) and most 100-yard games (9). Bruce made USA Today’s All-Joe team, All-Madden, and All-Pro by Sports Illustrated and he was voted a first alternate to the Pro Bowl. He was also awarded the Rams MVP.

In 1996 Bruce led his team with 84 receptions and led the NFL with 1,338 yards. He became the first Rams receiver since Henry Ellard in 1990 and 1991 to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Against the Baltimore Ravens on October 27, 1996, he caught 11 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown. On November 30, 1996, Bruce was re-signed by the Rams to a 4-year $12.1 million contract extension.[1] In 1996 Bruce was also voted to his first Pro Bowl, after having been an alternate the season before.

The following seasons Bruce was hampered by hamstring injuries. In 1997 he missed the first six games due to injury and in 1998 he missed the final nine games (he also missed two other games earlier in the season). In Atlanta on November 2, 1997, Bruce had another 200-yard game, totaling 10 catches, 233 yards and recording 2 touchdowns. Prior to his injury in 1998 in a home game against the Minnesota Vikings, Bruce had 11 catches for 192 yards and an 80-yard touchdown.

In 1999 Bruce was a First-team All-Pro and was voted to his second Pro Bowl. He caught 77 passes for 1,165 yards and 12 touchdowns as Rams had a 13-3 record and advanced to the Super Bowl. He also led Rams in receiving yards in the playoffs, with 317 yards on 13 catches with a team-high two touchdowns. Bruce caught Kurt Warner's 73-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXIV to give the Rams a 23-16 lead, which turned out to be the game winner.

Prior to the 2000 season Bruce was re-signed by the Rams to a 7-year, $42 million contract extension.[2] In 2000 Bruce was again a Pro Bowler and caught 87 passes for 1,471 yards and 9 touchdowns. He became the first Rams receiver to earn back-to-back Pro Bowl invitations since Henry Ellard accomplished the feat for the 1988-1989 seasons. Bruce either led or was tied for the most receptions six times in 2000, led the team in receiving yards six times, and posted four 100-yard receiving games. That same year, Bruce and teammate Torry Holt became only the second WR duo from the same team to each gain over 1400 yards in the same season (see Herman Moore and Brett Perriman).

In 2001 the Rams returned to the Super Bowl, losing to the New England Patriots, and Bruce made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time, becoming only the third receiver in team history to earn three consecutive Pro Bowl invitations (Elroy Hirsch 1951-53, Jim Phillips 1960-62). Bruce was voted offensive captain and became the franchise career leader in 100-yard receiving games (29), 1,000-yard seasons (5), and receiving touchdowns (56). He became just the second player in team history to post 500 career receptions vs. New York Giants on October 14, 2001. He caught five passes for 56 yards against New England in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Bruce became the Rams’ all-time leader in receptions in 2002 while posting his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. That year he led the team with seven touchdown receptions, and ended the season with 79 receptions for 1,075 yards. On his 30th birthday, Bruce had three fumbles in a game. Luckily for Bruce, he scored a game winning touchdown and the game is almost forgotten because of 34-34 tie between the Falcons and Steelers the same day.

In 2003 Bruce missed the 1,000 mark for the first time since 1998, finishing with 69 catches for 981 yards and 5 touchdowns, however, he became the Rams’ all-time leader in receiving yards (10,461), passing his position coach Henry Ellard (9,761). That year Bruce made seven receptions for 116 yards in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Carolina on January 10, 2004, making him the only Rams player to have four career 100-yard postseason performances, breaking a tie with Tom Fears.

In 2004, Bruce caught 89 passes (fifth in the NFC, eighth in the NFL) for 1,292 yards (fifth in the NFL). He started the season with four consecutive 100-yard receiving performances, the first player to accomplish this feat since Houston’s Charley Hennigan in 1963. Bruce nabbed a team-high nine catches for 170 yards and one touchdown at Green Bay on November 29, 2004.

A foot injury hampered Bruce in 2005, causing him to miss 5 games. Still, he caught his 800th career pass at Minnesota on December 11, 2005, becoming the 14th player in NFL history with 800 career receptions.

On March 7, 2006, the Rams released Bruce rather than pay him a $1.5 million bonus;[3] however, five days after releasing him, the Rams agreed to a three-year, $15 million deal with Bruce. The re-signing freed a reported $7.5 million in cap money for the Rams.[4] That season Bruce started 15 of 16 games and notched his eighth career 1,000-yard receiving season with 1,098 yards on 74 catches with three touchdowns.

In 2007 Bruce caught 55 passes for 733 yards and 4 touchdowns, second on his team only to Torry Holt in all three categories.

On February 28, 2008, Bruce was released by the Rams after refusing to take a pay cut, which the Rams promised they would not do in a previous contract renegotiation.[5]

San Francisco 49ers

Bruce with the 49ers in October 2008.

On February 29, 2008, Isaac Bruce signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers, to reunite with his former offensive coordinator Mike Martz.[6] Jerry Rice gave Bruce permission to wear the number 80 although the team had already retired it, however Bruce decided against it and instead wore 88.[7]

On December 21, 2008, in a game at St. Louis against his former team, the Rams, Isaac Bruce caught his 1,000th career reception - a 3-yard touchdown catch, the St. Louis fans cheered on their former wide receiver, yelling "Bruuuuuuuuce" whenever he caught a pass, and cheered when he caught his 1,000th pass.

After contemplating retirement in the offseason, he elected to return to the 49ers in 2009 for his sixteenth season,[8] reasoning that he was there to "get in the playoffs again and win a Super Bowl".[9]

On June 7, 2010 Bruce was traded from the 49ers to the Rams so that he would be able to retire as a Ram.[10] Bruce was the last member of the former first-tenure Los Angeles Rams to retire.[11]

Awards and achievements

NFL stats

Receiving Stats[12]

Season Team G Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
1994 LOS 12 21 272 13.0 34 3 0 0
1995 STL 16 119 1,781 15.0 72 13 2 1
1996 STL 16 84 1,338 15.9 70 7 1 1
1997 STL 12 56 815 14.6 59 5 1 0
1998 STL 5 32 457 14.3 80 1 0 0
1999 STL 16 77 1,165 15.1 60 12 0 0
2000 STL 16 87 1,471 16.9 78 9 1 1
2001 STL 16 64 1,106 17.3 51 6 3 1
2002 STL 16 79 1,075 13.6 34 7 2 2
2003 STL 15 69 981 14.2 41 5 0 0
2004 STL 16 89 1,292 14.5 56 6 5 4
2005 STL 11 36 525 14.6 46 3 0 0
2006 STL 16 74 1,098 14.8 45 3 0 0
2007 STL 14 55 733 13.3 37 4 0 0
2008 SF 16 61 835 13.7 63 7 0 0
2009 SF 10 21 265 12.6 50 0 0 0
Career 223 1,024 15,424 15.0 80 91 15 10

Personal

He is nicknamed "The Reverend" because he wishes to become one after he finishes his football career; he also wants to become a substitute teacher.

Bruce is the elder cousin of Canadian Football League wide receiver Arland Bruce.

Bruce is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Philanthropy

Since 1996, he has provided tickets to home games to various schools and youth organizations, including partnering with Haz-Waste to provide jerseys and limousine rides for children.

He was United Way spokesman in 1996-97 and United Way African American Leadership Giver from 1997-99. In 2008, he recorded a public service announcement and personal voice message for the RESPECT! Campaign against domestic violence.

References

  1. ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 28, 1996
  2. ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 17, 1996
  3. ↑ New York Times.com
  4. ↑ San Diego Union.com
  5. ↑ Fallstrom, R.B. (2008-02-29), Rams Release Isaac Bruce, Gus Frerotte, Associated Press, retrieved 2008-03-01
  6. ↑ Gay, Nancy (2008-03-01), 49ers, Bruce agree on deal Ex-Rams receiver to join Martz in San Francisco, San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved 2008-03-01
  7. ↑ "Isaac Bruce to Wear Jerry Rice's No. 80?". The New York Times. March 10, 2008.
  8. ↑ Bruce Will Return to 49ers Si.com, April 1, 2009
  9. ↑ http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/2009/06/isaac-bruce-im.html
  10. ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5261130
  11. ↑ "Snap Judgments: Bruce retirement ends last link to Los Angeles Rams". CNN. June 8, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Isaac Bruce Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 6 May 2014.

External links

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