Bruce King (American football)


Bruce King is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He split his 3-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Purdue. During his career, King was the only rookie fullback/running back to start on opening day of the 1985 season.

College career

King attended Purdue University for four years, where he was selected as Captain for his senior season and helped lead Purdue to the 1984 Peach Bowl. He averaged 5.6 yards per attempt; totaling over 1,100 yards and scoring 7 touchdowns during his Purdue career before graduating in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in management. He was a 3-year starter, blocking for future NFL great Mel Gray and Jim Everett. Fellow offensive backfield teammates were future Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rodney Carter, Eric Jordan of the Oakland Invaders and Ray Wallace of the Houston Oilers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Professional career

King was drafted by the Oakland Invaders of the USFL in the 8th round of the 1985 draft but chose to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL, having been taken by the Chiefs in the 5th round of the NFL draft, he was the 126th player taken overall. King started 6 games as a rookie fullback with the Chiefs, gaining 83 yards. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills 4 games into the 1986 season. He spent the entire 1987 season with the Bills, gaining 28 yards in 2 starts. After the end of the 1987 NFL players strike and a try-out with the Miami Dolphins, he retired from professional football.