| No. 29 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1959-02-28)February 28, 1959 (age 66) Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Spruce Creek(Port Orange, Florida) | ||||||||
| College: | Georgetown | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1982: 4th round, 94th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Bruce Edward McNorton (born February 28, 1959) is an American former professionalfootball player who playedcornerback for theDetroit Lions of theNational Football League (NFL).[1] He played college football atGeorgetown College from 1978 to 1981.
Bruce was born inDaytona Beach, FL on February 28, 1959. Bruce attended high school atSpruce Creek High School inPort Orange, FL. While there, he was an All-State football player. Bruce was offered a scholarship by one college –Georgetown College inGeorgetown, KY, which is anNAIA school.[2] He spent 4 years at Georgetown, from 1978–81, and still holds the records for kick return average and touchdowns in a season, both set in 1981. He has the most kickoff return yards in program history and is tied for the most kick return touchdowns. He is 2nd in interceptions with 17.[3] He was named a Little All-American in 1981. After his senior season, he played in theSenior Bowl inBirmingham, Alabama. He graduated from Georgetown with a degree in Social Work in December 1981.[4] Bruce was inducted into the Georgetown College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000[5] and the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.[6]
Bruce was drafted by theDetroit Lions with the 96th overall pick in the 4th round of the1982 NFL draft.[7] Bruce was the first player drafted out of Georgetown College. He saw action in only 4 games his rookie season due to a hand injury that occurred in training camp. Bruce was onInjured Reserve until December 11. The Lions made the playoffs in 1982 with a record of 4-5. The season was shortened from 16 games to 9 due to a players strike after Week 2. Bruce played in the playoff game against theWashington Redskins on January 8, 1983. The Redskins won the game, 31-7, and eventually wonSuper Bowl XXVII against theLos Angeles Raiders.[8]
Bruce had a breakout season in 1983, playing all 16 games and winning the starting position overAl Latimer in week 9 against theChicago Bears. Bruce intercepted his first pass that week, and gathered 6 more the rest of the season, including 2 each against theNew York Giants andPittsburgh Steelers. He tied for 4th amongNFC defenders in interceptions for the year. Bruce helped lead the Lions to theCentral Division crown in 1983, with a 9-7 record. On December 31, 1983, the Lions were defeated in the NFC Divisional Round by theSan Francisco 49ers 24-23. It would be the last playoff game that Bruce would play in the NFL.[9]
Bruce started all 16 games at right cornerback for the Lions in 1984, intercepting 2 passes and leading the team in passes defended with 8. Bruce was 8th on the team in tackles with 79. The Lions slumped in 1984, going 4-11-1, ahead of only theMinnesota Vikings in the Central Division.[10]
Bruce again started all 16 games for the Lions, who finished the season tied with Minnesota for 3rd place in the division at 7-9. He intercepted 2 passes in 1985, with 76 tackles.[11]
Bruce started every game for the third season in a row for the Lions, recording 65 tackles. His 4 interceptions were good enough for 2nd on the Lions. He posted his career-high in passes defended with 17. Bruce was a catalyst on the field, as he led the team in minutes played. In a win over theHouston Oilers, he intercepted a pass fromWarren Moon on their final drive to seal the victory.[12]
Because of the owner’s lockout, Bruce’s streak of consecutive starts ended at 58. However, he started all 12 games he played in. He intercepted 3 passes for 20 yards in the season. His biggest game of the year was against theKansas City Chiefs in Week 12. He recorded 11 tackles and a key interception in the 4th quarter. Despite his excellent game, the Chiefs triumphed over the Lions 27-20. The Lions were one of the worst teams in the NFL in 1987, finishing tied for last place in the division with a 4-11 record.[13]
Bruce recorded the largest tackles total of his career in 1988, with 105 total tackles, 87 of them solo. His career high was set in Week 10 against Minnesota, with 13 tackles. Once again, he started all 16 games on the season. This would be the last season he would accomplish this feat. Bruce had one interception on the year, in a Week 14 win against Green Bay. The Lions had a worse season despite his efforts, finishing the season at 4-12 in a tie with Green Bay for last place in the Central Division.[14]
Bruce played in 8 games in 1989, losing his starting role toTerry Tyler. In Week 4 against Pittsburgh, Bruce sackedBubby Brister to record the only sack of his career. Bruce suffered a knee injury in practice after week 8, ending his season. He recorded 4 tackles and 2 passes defended, with no interceptions. With the addition of 1988Heisman Trophy winnerBarry Sanders, the Lions improved to 7-9 in 1989, but it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs.[15]
Bruce played in 12 games in 1990, with 8 starts. Terry Tyler resumed his starting role for the first two weeks of the season, with Bruce taking over from Weeks 3 to 10. Bruce had 10 tackles against Kansas City in Week 6. He lost the starting position toRay Crockett against theDenver Broncos in Week 11. He was injured against the Chicago Bears the following week and placed on IR on December 7 for the last 4 games. He finished the season with 56 tackles and a 33-yard interception.[16] Bruce received theEd Block Courage Award at the end of the season.[17] He was grantedfree agency on February 1, 1991.[18]
Bruce signed with theMiami Dolphins on July 11, 1991. He was waived on July 20, and recalled 2 days later to be placed on Injured Reserve. He would remain on IR for the season. Bruce was placed on the unprotected list on February 1, 1992. On April 24, the Dolphins did not make a qualifying offer to Bruce, making him an unrestricted free agent.[19]
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles[20] | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | [21] FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 1982 | DET | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | DET | 16 | 8 | 74 | 59 | 15 | 0.0 | 11 | 7 | 30 | 4.3 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | DET | 16 | 16 | 79 | 54 | 25 | 0.0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | DET | 16 | 16 | 76 | 63 | 13 | 0.0 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | DET | 16 | 16 | 65 | 52 | 13 | 0.0 | 17 | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | 12 | 12 | 64 | 53 | 11 | 0.0 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | DET | 16 | 16 | 105 | 87 | 18 | 0.0 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 0 |
| 1989 | DET | 8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | DET[22] | 12 | 8 | 56 | 49 | 7 | 0.0 | 10 | 1 | 33 | 33.0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 116 | 92 | 528 | 422 | 106 | 1.0 | 69 | 20 | 111 | 5.6 | 33 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 0 | |
After his playing career concluded, Bruce coached atPontiac Northern High School, first as an assistant under coach Jon Brown, then became head coach from 1995-99. Bruce was also a guidance counselor at the school. In 2000, Bruce was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a scout. He scouted for the Steelers until 2022.[24] Bruce regularly covered the South region, especially the Daytona Beach area.[25]
Bruce has 3 children, Mykeisha, Brittany, whose husband isCalvin Johnson, a member of theNFL Hall of Fame,[26] and Bruce, Jr. who also scouted in the NFL.[27] He earned the nickname "Chili" in rookie training camp.[28] He currently resides in Daytona Beach, where he runs his annual football clinic.[29]