Bruce Harper
Encyclopedia
Bruce Harper was an American football
running back
and kick returner
for the New York Jets
of the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent
out of Kutztown
by the Jets in 1977. Bruce Harper is the all-time kick returner in New York Jets history with 5407 yards in kickoff returns. He also served as the Jets punt returner from 1977 to 1982, totalling 1748 PR yards and 1 touchdown. Harper also played running back. His total yards are 11429: 1829 rushing yards, 2409 receiving yards, 1784 PR yards and 5407 KR yards.
Harper played high school football at Dwight Morrow High School
in Englewood.
Harper's 42 jersey is the jersey worn by diehard Jets fan (and leader of the J-E-T-S chant) Fireman Ed
.
Harper was a longtime resident of Norwood, New Jersey
, but now lives in Closter, New Jersey
.
Harper is founder and director of the non-for-profit organization Heroes & Cool Kids. Based in school systems throughout New Jersey, the mentoring program reaches out to elementary and middle-school kids by high school athletes and students of the same district. The high school students are trained through the Heroes and Cool Kids' curriculum and by former professional athletes, such as former NFL player, Keith Elias
, former LA Lakers player, John Celestand
, and former NJ Nets player, Tim Bassett
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
out of Kutztown
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania , is an American public university located in rural Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania and is one of fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary...
by the Jets in 1977. Bruce Harper is the all-time kick returner in New York Jets history with 5407 yards in kickoff returns. He also served as the Jets punt returner from 1977 to 1982, totalling 1748 PR yards and 1 touchdown. Harper also played running back. His total yards are 11429: 1829 rushing yards, 2409 receiving yards, 1784 PR yards and 5407 KR yards.
Harper played high school football at Dwight Morrow High School
Dwight Morrow High School
Dwight Morrow High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Englewood, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Englewood Public School District. The school also serves students from Englewood Cliffs, who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship...
in Englewood.
Harper's 42 jersey is the jersey worn by diehard Jets fan (and leader of the J-E-T-S chant) Fireman Ed
Fireman Ed
Edwin M. Anzalone , better known as Fireman Ed, is an enthusiastic fan of the New York Jets since 1986, although he was a fan of the Miami Dolphins until the age of 10. One of the most well known National Football League fans, he rose to prominence by appearing on the Boomer and Craig Carton radio...
.
Harper was a longtime resident of Norwood, New Jersey
Norwood, New Jersey
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,711 people. The population density was 2,083.3 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 69.3% Caucasian, 27.2% Asian, 1.4% African American, 0.0% Native American, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanics...
, but now lives in Closter, New Jersey
Closter, New Jersey
Closter is a Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,373. After the turn of the century, Closter changed from being sprawling estates and farms into a middle and upper middle class suburban town...
.
Harper is founder and director of the non-for-profit organization Heroes & Cool Kids. Based in school systems throughout New Jersey, the mentoring program reaches out to elementary and middle-school kids by high school athletes and students of the same district. The high school students are trained through the Heroes and Cool Kids' curriculum and by former professional athletes, such as former NFL player, Keith Elias
Keith Elias
Keith Hector Elias is a former American football running back in the National Football League and Xtreme Football League...
, former LA Lakers player, John Celestand
John Celestand
John Celestand is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'4" shooting guard, Celestand attended Piscataway Township High School in Piscataway Township, New Jersey before playing collegiately at Villanova University. Celestand was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 30...
, and former NJ Nets player, Tim Bassett
Tim Bassett
Eugene Timothy "Tim" Bassett is a retired American basketball player.He played collegiately for the University of Georgia....
.