Isaac Bruce Hall of Fame speech ends with passionate message for doubters
Isaac Bruce clearly has obviously been waiting for his NFL Hall of Fame induction for a long time. On Saturday night, the former Rams wide receiver stood behind the podium in Canton to give his speech, an honor that most NFL players strive for, but few achieve.
There have been plenty of memorable Hall of Fame speeches over the years, but Bruce’s won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Here is the full transcript from the end of Isaac Bruce’s Hall of Fame speech:
“To the nameless voice who called me two weeks before the draft in 1994 that let me know that the NFL wasn’t checking for me. They didn’t like me. They liked more of NFL legends Bert Emanuel and Ryan Yarborough,” said Bruce, whom the Rams drafted 33rd overall, eight spots ahead of Yarborough and 12 ahead of Emanuel. “I know you’re alive, and I prayed God would keep you alive for this day. My message to you is rap legend Kool Moe Dee wanted me to ask you: How Ya Like Me Now?
Isaac Bruce
Bruce came out of an impressive career at Memphis and caught the eyes of the Los Angeles Rams, who selected him with the 33rd pick in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft.
Here is the official write-up on Bruce on the Pro Football Hall of Fame website. It provides the blueprint for Bruce’s rise to the top, setting records in the regular season, for the Rams and even in the Super Bowl along the way.
Isaac Bruce Hall of Fame achievements
Known for his precise route-running and tireless work ethic, Bruce totaled 1,024 receptions for 15,208 yards and 91 touchdowns during a 16-year career with the Rams (1994-2007) and San Francisco 49ers (2008-09). His receptions total ranked fifth and his receiving yardage placed him second in NFL history at the time of his retirement.
Bruce earned a starting role with the Rams in his second season and produced one of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in league history. He totaled 119 receptions for 1,781 yards and 13 TDs. The yardage total would have been a new NFL record had Jerry Rice not posted 1,848 yards that same season. Bruce was also the first in NFL history to record three consecutive games with 170 or more receiving yards (181, 191, 173).
Bruce produced eight 1,000-yards seasons and 10 seasons in which he recorded 60 or more receptions.
In 1999, Bruce was a key ingredient in the Rams’ surprise turnaround from a team that had not finished higher than third place in the NFC Western Division in nine seasons to a first-place finish and a Super Bowl victory. Bruce’s 77 receptions for 1,165 and 12 touchdowns earned him an All-Pro nod and helped prime the Rams to a then-franchise best 13-3 record. In Super Bowl XXXIV, Bruce grabbed six receptions for 162 yards (third-most in Super Bowl history) and one touchdown. The touchdown was a 73-yard reception that proved to be the game-winner with 1:54 remaining in the contest.
Bruce, who recorded 42 100-yard games during his career, earned four Pro Bowl invitations during his 223-game career.