| No. 42 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back Return specialist | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1955-06-20)June 20, 1955 (age 69) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 174 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Dwight Morrow (Englewood, New Jersey) | ||||||||||||||||||
| College: | Kutztown | ||||||||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||||
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Bruce S. Harper (born June 20, 1955) is an American former professionalfootballrunning back andreturn specialist who played for theNew York Jets of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theKutztown Golden Bears and was signed as anundrafted free agent by the Jets after the1977 NFL draft.
Harper playedhigh school football atDwight Morrow High School inEnglewood, New Jersey.[1]
Harper attended the Kutztown State College—nowKutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he became the school's first 1,000 yards rusher.[citation needed]
Harper is the all-time kick returner leader inNew York Jets history with 5,407 yards in kickoff returns. He also served as the Jets punt returner from 1977 to 1982, totalling 1,784 punt return yards and one touchdown.
His total yards are 11,429: 1,829 rushing, 2,409 receiving, 1,784 punt return and 5,407 kickoff return yards.[2]
Harper's no. 42 jersey is the jersey worn by diehard Jets fanFireman Ed.[3]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1977 | NYJ | 14 | 1 | 44 | 198 | 4.5 | 18 | 0 | 21 | 209 | 10.0 | 55 | 1 |
| 1978 | NYJ | 16 | 0 | 58 | 303 | 5.2 | 32 | 2 | 13 | 196 | 15.1 | 44 | 2 |
| 1979 | NYJ | 16 | 0 | 65 | 282 | 4.3 | 31 | 0 | 17 | 250 | 14.7 | 72 | 2 |
| 1980 | NYJ | 15 | 1 | 45 | 126 | 2.8 | 22 | 0 | 50 | 634 | 12.7 | 52 | 3 |
| 1981 | NYJ | 16 | 7 | 81 | 393 | 4.9 | 29 | 4 | 52 | 459 | 8.8 | 24 | 1 |
| 1982 | NYJ | 9 | 0 | 20 | 125 | 6.3 | 40 | 0 | 14 | 177 | 12.6 | 39 | 1 |
| 1983 | NYJ | 9 | 2 | 51 | 354 | 6.9 | 78 | 1 | 48 | 413 | 8.6 | 33 | 2 |
| 1984 | NYJ | 4 | 0 | 10 | 48 | 4.8 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 71 | 14.2 | 28 | 0 |
| 99 | 11 | 374 | 1,829 | 4.9 | 78 | 8 | 220 | 2,409 | 11.0 | 72 | 12 | ||
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1981 | NYJ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1982 | NYJ | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 49 | 8.2 | 19 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 53 | 7.6 | 19 | 0 | ||
Harper was a longtime resident ofNorwood, New Jersey,[1] but now lives inCloster, New Jersey.[4]
Harper is founder and director of the non-for-profit organization Heroes & Cool Kids, established in 1998.[5] Based in school systems throughout New Jersey, the mentoring program reaches out to elementary and middle-school kids by high school athletes and students of the same district. The high school students are trained through the Heroes and Cool Kids' curriculum and by former professional athletes, such as former NFL player,Keith Elias, former Los Angeles Lakers player,John Celestand, and former New Jersey Nets player,Tim Bassett.[4]