The 5 Greatest Moments from Isaac Bruce's Hall of Fame Career
By Evan Chronis | May 26, 2020 | Pro Football Hall of Fame
There's no "Greatest Show on Turf" without Isaac Bruce.
The longtime Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams receiver let his play speak the most throughout his career as he put up mind-numbing stats that cemented his Hall of Fame legacy.
As Bruce prepares for his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2020, we are looking back at the top moments of his career that helped earn him his spot in Canton.
5. First Playoff TD in St. Louis History
Game: Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams
When: January 16, 2000
Five years following the move from Los Angeles to St. Louis, the Rams hosted a playoff game in front of a home audience.
They welcomed the Minnesota Vikings into town for the St. Louis' first NFL postseason game in the NFC Divisional Round.
The game was a series of firsts, but none was as important as Bruce taking a 77-yard Kurt Warner pass to the house on the Rams first play from scrimmage. It officially kicked off a new era in the Gateway City.
The Rams won the game, 49-37, and moved onto the NFC Championship Game. Don't worry, we'll return to this playoff run later on this list.
4. 1,000th Career Reception
Game: San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams
When: December 21, 2008
Isaac Bruce will enter the Hall of Fame as a member of the Rams, but his brief tenure with the San Francisco 49ers also shaped his legacy.
In a matchup against his old team back In St. Louis, Bruce, then a member of the 49ers, caught his 1,000th career pass — a 3-yard touchdown from Shaun Hill.
The Rams faithful erupted in celebration for Bruce's accomplishment, chanting his name throughout the stadium.
Bruce finished his career with 1,024 catches, ranking 13th on the all-time receptions list.
3. Reaches 15K Milestone
When: 2009 Season
The 15,000-yard receiving club is a tight-knit group. Currently, only six other players have joined the illustrious club.
But back before 2009, only one receiver had surpassed the mark — Jerry Rice.
That is until the 2009 season, where Bruce, in his final NFL campaign, surpassed the 15,000-yard receiving mark to become the second receiver ever to accomplish the feat.
Since then, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Larry Fitzgerald have joined the club, but Bruce will be the first to tell you that he was the second to do it, right behind who many consider the greatest pass catcher of all time.
2. 1995 Breakout Season
When: 1995 Season
Statistics help build out a Hall of Fame resume and Bruce’s sophomore season in the NFL is one of the most impressive we’ve ever seen.
In 16 games, Bruce caught 119 passes for 1,781 yards and 13 touchdowns. For those keeping track, that’s an average of 111.3 receiving yards per game for a whole season.
The 1,781 receiving yards were second in the league that year behind Jerry Rice, but were good enough to rank fifth on the all-time single-season list. Bruce’s 119 receptions also ranks 14th all-time for a season.
After this season, Isaac Bruce was officially a household name.
1. Go-Ahead Touchdown in 2000 Super Bowl
Game: St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans
When: January 30, 2000
Every kid dreams of making the game-winning play in the Super Bowl; Isaac Bruce went out and did it.
With two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the 2000 Super Bowl, the Rams and Tennessee Titans were tied, 16-16.
Following the two-minute warning, Kurt Warner found Bruce in one-on-one covered down the sideline. Bruce corralled the pass and cut inside to catch the ball just past the 50-yard line and swing past the next defender en route to the open field and, eventually, the endzone.
The 73-yard touchdown gave the Rams a lead that they would hold on to, winning the franchise its first and only Super Bowl.
EXTRA: Our Q&A with Isaac Bruce
Hall of Fame Experiences sat down with Isaac Bruce (virtually) to chat about his upcoming enshrinement and other stories from his Hall of Fame career.
Witness Bruce’s Enshrinement into the Hall of Fame
Celebrate with Rams nation in Canton in 2021 to honor the enshrinement of Isaac Bruce into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Attend Class of 2020 Enshrinement Week with an Official Ticket Package from HOF Experiences. Click below to see everything that’s included with an Official Ticket Package.
