Isaac Isidore Bruce (born November 10, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 1994 NFL draft after playing college football for the West Los Angeles Wildcats, the Santa Monica Corsairs, and most notably with the Memphis Tigers.
An All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection, Bruce amassed 15,208 receiving yards in his career (fifth all-time). He played the first 14 years with the Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams and won a Super Bowl ring with the team in Super Bowl XXXIV over the Tennessee Titans. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers. During his time with the Rams, he was the leading wide receiver of "The Greatest Show on Turf". In 2020, Bruce was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early life
Bruce was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He graduated from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale in 1990. As a senior for the Panthers football team, 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 originally signed his letter of intent to play college football for the Purdue Boilermakers in 1990, but his SAT scores were too low for Purdue to accept him. Bruce then decided to attend West Los Angeles College, then to Santa Monica College before transferring to the Memphis State University, where he played beside fellow future NFL receiver Russell Copeland. In 1992, Bruce's first year with Memphis, he had 39 receptions for 532 yards and five touchdowns. In 1993, he became the first wide receiver in program history to post a 1,000-yard receiving season. He finished the season with a school-record 74 catches for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns. He earned a degree from Memphis in physical education, and he is the only Memphis player to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Los Angeles Rams
Bruce was selected 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. His first NFL reception was a 34-yard touchdown throw from Chris Miller at Atlanta on September 11, 1994. As a rookie, he finished with 21 receptions for 272 yards and three touchdowns. 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.
St. Louis Rams
Bruce 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 17–14 win over the Green Bay Packers. He was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for week 7 following a 10-catch, 191 yard, two-touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons in a 21–19 win. 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 is still the fifth most in a single 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 12th 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. In 1996, he was voted to his first Pro Bowl, after having been an alternate the season before.
In 1997, Bruce missed the first six games due to injury. He finished the 1997 season with 56 recepitons for 815 yards and five touchdowns. In Atlanta on November 2, 1997, Bruce had another 200-yard game, totaling 10 catches, 233 yards and recording two 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. He appeared in five games in the 1998 season and had 32 receptions for 457 yards and one touchdown.
In 1999, Bruce was a second-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.
San Francisco 49ers
On February 29, 2008, Bruce signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers, to reunite with his former offensive coordinator Mike Martz. 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.
In Week 2 of the 2008 season, Bruce had four receptions for 153 yards in a 33–30 overtime road win against the Seattle Seahawks. In Week 12, on the road against the Dallas Cowboys, he had eight receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. On December 21, 2008, in a Week 16 game at St. Louis against his former team, the Rams, Bruce caught his 1,000th career reception – a 3-yard touchdown catch. 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. In the 2008 season, he had 61 receptions for 835 yards and seven touchdowns.
After contemplating retirement in the offseason, he elected to return to the 49ers in 2009 for his 16th season, reasoning that he was there to "get in the playoffs again and win a Super Bowl". He finished the 2009 season with 21 receptions for 264 yards in ten games. He was inactive for six of the final eight games. The 49ers went 8–8 and missed the postseason.
On June 7, 2010, Bruce was traded from the 49ers to the Rams so that he would be able to retire as a Ram. Bruce was the last member of the former first-tenure Los Angeles Rams to retire.
Career statistics
Awards and achievements
2020 - Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2010 - His jersey No. 80 was retired by the Rams.
2009 – Second wide receiver in NFL history to achieve more than 15,000 receiving yards.
2008 – Reaches 1,000 receptions with a touchdown against his former team the St. Louis Rams. Surpassed Tim Brown to become 2nd all-time in receiving yards with 14,944 receiving yards.
2007 – Achieved 14,109 receiving yards and 942 receptions, putting him at 6th place for all-time receptions and 3rd for total yardage. He is also 13th all-time in receiving touchdowns with 84.
2006 – National Sportsmanship Award
2003 – Sports Personality of the Year Award from the Missouri Athletic Club at the annual Jack Buck Sports Award Banquet
2001 – Named to play in Pro Bowl (did not play – injured)
2000 – Named to play in Pro Bowl (did not play – injured)
1999 – Super Bowl XXXIV champion
1999 – Named to play in Pro Bowl
1998 – Rams Sprint Good Sport/Man of the Year
1997 – Rams True Value Man of the Year
1996 – Named to play in Pro Bowl, led league in receiving yards
1995 – Recorded 119 receptions (Most in NFL history by a player 25 and under, voted a Pro Bowl alternate)
Personal life
Bruce is a Christian. Bruce is nicknamed "The Reverend" because he wished to become one after he finished his football career; he also wanted to become a substitute teacher.
Bruce is married to Clegzette Bruce. They have two daughters.
Bruce is the elder cousin of Canadian Football League wide receiver Arland Bruce. Bruce is the younger cousin of NFL running back Derrick Moore.
Bruce is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Philanthropy
Since 1996, Isaac Bruce 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 a United Way spokesman in 1996–97 and United Way African American Leadership Giver from 1997 to 1999. In 2008, he recorded a public service announcement and personal voice message for the RESPECT! Campaign against domestic violence.