Bruce McLenna | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1941-12-23)December 23, 1941 Holly, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Died | June 18, 1968(1968-06-18) (aged 26) Urbana, Missouri, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  United States of America | ||||||||||||||
| Branch | Missouri National Guard | ||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1967–1968 | ||||||||||||||
| Unit | 1975th Military Police Battalion | ||||||||||||||
| Other work | Football career | ||||||||||||||
| No. 24 | |||||||||||||||
| Positions | Halfback,Fullback,End | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| College | Michigan | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1965: 9th round, 123rd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| AFL draft | 1965: Red Shirt 9th round, 69th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Bruce Oliver McLenna (December 23, 1941 – June 18, 1968) was an American professionalfootball player. He playedcollege football for theUniversity of Michigan in 1961 and forHillsdale College in 1964 and 1965. He played in theNational Football League (NFL) for theDetroit Lions in 1966 and was later signed by theKansas City Chiefs. In June 1968, he was killed in an automobile accident at age 26 while riding in a military vehicle as part of his service in theMissouri National Guard.
A native ofHolly, Michigan,[1] McLenna grew up inFenton, Michigan.[2]
McLenna playedcollege football as ahalfback for theUniversity of Michigan in 1961. He gained 43 net rushing yards on 14 rushing attempts in 1961 and scored touchdowns againstArmy andOhio State.[3] He was listed on the 1962 roster at the fullback and end positions,[2] but he was ruled academically ineligible to play for Michigan's football team in late August 1962.[4][5]
McLenna transferred toHillsdale College where he became a star running back for theHillsdale Chargers football team.[6][7] He played for Hillsdale in 1964 and 1965 and was the leading scorer in the state in 1964.[8] He was also selected as Hillsdale's most valuable player in 1965.[9] He was also selected for the "Little All-America" team.[10]
McLenna was drafted by theDetroit Lions in the ninth round (123rd overall pick) of the1965 NFL draft, but he opted to continue playing for Hillsdale College in 1965.[9] He played at the halfback position for the1966 Detroit Lions, appearing in the first nine games of the1966 NFL season.[1][10] However, he sustained a knee injury in the ninth game and missed the remainder of the season.[11] McLenna underwent knee surgery in November 1966.[7] In March 1967, the Lions traded McLenna to theNew Orleans Saints forCharlie Bradshaw.[7][12] He was cut by the Saints before the start of the 1967 regular season. He then signed with theKansas City Chiefs and played on the Chiefs'practice squad during the 1967 season.[10][13]
McLenna died in June 1968 atUrbana, Missouri.[14] He was killed in an automobile crash while traveling in a military vehicle fromFt. Leonard Wood to Camp Clark atNevada, Missouri.[6] According to an account of the accident published inThe Sporting News, McLenna was riding in the rear of a military truck as part of a two-week assignment with the 1975th Military Police Battalion. The truck was sideswiped by a civilian automobile onU.S. Highway 65.[10] McLenna was attempting to fulfill his service obligation with theMissouri National Guard before the start of the1968 AFL season.[6][15]