Bruce Laird (football player)
Encyclopedia
Bruce Allan Laird is a retired American Pro Football player.
Laird was a Pro-Bowl Defensive Back, primarily a strong safety with the Baltimore Colts
from 1972–1981, then for the San Diego Chargers
for two seasons, before moving to the USFL after the 1983 season. Over Bruce's 12 year NFL career he started in 127 games, and played in a total of 164 games.
The first half of his career, Laird was a special teams punt and kick returner. Although he never returned one for a touchdown, he accumulated 3,748 yards in 213 attempts, with a career long of 73 yards. His average punt return was 6.6 yards per attempt, and he averaged 24.7 yards per kick return attempt.
. He moved to the coast, and attended Scituate High School
where he was a four-sports star.
, where he was an All-American his junior and senior years. He graduated with dual degrees in history and political science.
and Arizona Outlaws
.
Once retired from the game, Laird remained active with the NFL, as a member of the Board of Directors of "Fourth & Goal", an independent organization for the benefit of retired NFL players.
Laird currently works as a senior marketing executive for Multi-Specialty HealthCare, and resides in the Baltimore metropolitan area, with his second wife, Mary, and his three sons from his first wife. He has also been the NFL's uniform inspector for Baltimore Ravens
home games at M&T Bank Stadium
since 1998.
Laird was a Pro-Bowl Defensive Back, primarily a strong safety with the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
from 1972–1981, then for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for two seasons, before moving to the USFL after the 1983 season. Over Bruce's 12 year NFL career he started in 127 games, and played in a total of 164 games.
The first half of his career, Laird was a special teams punt and kick returner. Although he never returned one for a touchdown, he accumulated 3,748 yards in 213 attempts, with a career long of 73 yards. His average punt return was 6.6 yards per attempt, and he averaged 24.7 yards per kick return attempt.
Early years
Bruce Allan Laird was born May 23, 1950 in Lowell, MassachusettsLowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
. He moved to the coast, and attended Scituate High School
Scituate High School (Massachusetts)
Scituate High School is the only public secondary school of Scituate, Massachusetts. It has an enrollment of roughly 722 students, servicing grades 9–12 for the entire town. The school was originally located at Central Field in Scituate and then moved to what is now the Gates Intermediate...
where he was a four-sports star.
College years
Laird attended American International CollegeAmerican International College
American International College is a private, co-educational liberal-arts college located in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield, Massachusetts.-History:...
, where he was an All-American his junior and senior years. He graduated with dual degrees in history and political science.
Later years
After Bruce's final season with the NFL, he played in the USFL for the Arizona WranglersArizona Wranglers
The Arizona Wranglers were a professional American Football team in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix.-Founding:...
and Arizona Outlaws
Arizona Outlaws
The Arizona Outlaws were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They were owned by Fresno banker and real estate agent William Tatham, Sr., who had briefly owned the Portland Thunder of the World Football League.- 1984 Oklahoma...
.
Once retired from the game, Laird remained active with the NFL, as a member of the Board of Directors of "Fourth & Goal", an independent organization for the benefit of retired NFL players.
Laird currently works as a senior marketing executive for Multi-Specialty HealthCare, and resides in the Baltimore metropolitan area, with his second wife, Mary, and his three sons from his first wife. He has also been the NFL's uniform inspector for Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
home games at M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Served by the Hamburg Street station of...
since 1998.