Reggie Bush
COLLEGE: USC
POSITION: Running Back
BORN: March 2, 1985 in Spring Valley, California
JOINED SAINTS: 2006
YEARS WITH SAINTS: 2006-2010
Reggie Bush's Career Background
Former Saints running back Reggie Bush was enshrined in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2019 after spending the first five years of his illustrious 11-year pro football career with the Black and Gold.
The Spring Valley, Calif. native was selected by the Saints in the first round (second overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Southern California. Bush proved his worth during his rookie campaign as he ranked second in the NFL among all rookies and second on the team with nine total touchdowns, the highest total for a Saints rookie since RB George Rogers had 13 in 1981. He also ranked tenth in the NFL with a team-high 88 receptions, which was an NFL record for catches by a rookie running back – leading all rookies and second overall among running backs. On his 88 receptions, Bush amassed 742 receiving yards to rank third in league history for a rookie running back while adding on two touchdowns. He was also the only player in the NFL to record touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a punt return. The successes of his rookie campaign earned him a selection to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and a fifth place finish in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Overall, Bush played in 60 games with 41 starts, carrying 524 times for 2,090 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding on 294 receptions for 2,142 yards and 12 touchdowns in five seasons with New Orleans, including the Super Bowl XLIV Championship campaign. Despite returning only 20 career punts as a Saint, his three returns for touchdowns are tied for first in club history. He departed New Orleans as the Saints' all-time leader in receptions by a running back and ranked fifth in receiving totals on the club's overall receptions list, while also being the only player in franchise history to score touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a punt return, which he has accomplished both in the regular season and in the postseason.
Following the 2010 season, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins, where he played two years before spending two years with the Detroit Lions and one year with San Francisco and Buffalo. He appeared in 134 games with 96 starts throughout his 11-year pro football career, amassing career totals of 1,286 carries for 5,490 yards and 36 touchdowns while adding on 477 receptions for 3,598 yards and 18 touchdowns.
After retiring from pro football following the 2016 campaign, Bush started working in broadcasting. He now serves as a college football analyst for Fox Sports for their pregame and postgame shows.Â
Reggie Bush's College Career
Prior to his NFL career, Bush had an honor-filled career at USC, where he lettered three years for the Trojans. Making an immediate impact as a freshman, Bush set a USC freshman record in all-purpose yards with 1,331 as he became the first Trojan to lead the Pacific-10 Conference in kickoff returns since 1974, earning him a consensus first-team Freshman All-American selection and ESPN Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year. The accolades continued during his sophomore campaign in 2004, where he led the Pac-10 in all-purpose yardage with 2,330 total yards while being named team MVP, consensus All-American and a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award as he helped lead the team to a BCS Championship title. In his junior year during 2005, Bush led the nation with an average of 222.3 all-purpose yards per game and led the Trojans with 1,740 yards on 200 carries (8.7 avg.) with 16 touchdowns. On November 19, 2005, in a game versus Fresno State, Bush recorded 513 all-purpose yards (294 rushing, 68 receiving, 151 return) to set the Pac-10 record. He finished his career at Southern California as a first-team All-American, AP Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, the Heisman Trophy winner, Walter Camp Award winner and Doak Walker Award winner, which goes to the top running back in college football. Bush was again honored through his selection to the College Football Hall of Fame's class of 2023.
Reggie Bush's Career Honors
Super Bowl champion - XLIV
PFWA All-Rookie Team – 2006
The Sporting News All-Pro (punt returner) – 2008
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
