Isaac Bruce is one step closer to being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The iconic former Rams receiver was named a finalist for the 2018 Hall of Fame class. Bruce joins 14 other players including fellow wide receivers Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.
Bruce has the numbers to be enshrined in Canton. All-time, Bruce ranks fifth in receiving yards, 12th in receiving touchdowns, and 13th in receptions. He made four Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with the Greatest Show on Turf in 1999. Bruce is one of seven players to have 11 or more seasons with 50 receptions and is one of 11 players to have eight or more seasons with 1,000 receiving yards.
While this is a good step for Bruce to make it to Canton, it seems unlikely he will earn a spot in the 2018 class. Both Moss and Owens are ahead of Bruce on the all-time rankings just mentioned. Moss seems like a lock in his first year on the ballot, and if the committee chooses to induct an additional receiver, Owens would be the more likely candidate. The ballot is loaded this year and Bruce sneaking in would be a pleasant surprise.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018 will be announced during a two-hour special on the night before the Super Bowl. To hear the announcement live, tune into NFL Honors on NBC February 3rd at 9 PM. You can view the full list of finalists here.
Steve Rebeiro is a staff writer and podcast host for Rams Talk. He graduated from Marquette University in 2016. For more of his opinions, follow him on Twitter here.
