Reggie Bush Reginald Alfred " Reggie " Bush , Jr . ( born March 2 , 1985 ) is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Southern California ( USC ) , earned All - American honors twice , and was recognized as the top college running back . The New Orleans Saints chose him with the second overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft . Bush won a Super Bowl title with the Saints in 2010 . Bush won multiple college football honors , including the 2005 Doak Walker and Walter Camp awards and the sport ' s most prestigious individual honor , the Heisman Trophy . However , allegations he received improper benefits were central to an NCAA investigation of the USC football program that led to severe NCAA sanctions against USC , including a two - year postseason ban and the vacating of wins from the 2004 – 05 championship season . As a result , Bush voluntarily forfeited his Heisman Trophy . Early life . Bush was born in 1985 in Spring Valley , California in the county of San Diego , and named for his biological father , Reginald Alfred Bush , Sr . He was a running back at Helix High School in La Mesa , California . While at Helix , he played with 2004 Heisman Trophy finalist Alex Smith . Smith and Bush were later finalists for the 2004 Heisman , making it the first time a high school had two finalists at the same ceremony . He played in the 2003 U . S . Army All - American Bowl . College career . Bush received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Southern California , where he played for head coach Pete Carroll ' s USC Trojans football team from 2003 to 2005 . When Carroll recruited Bush for USC , he envisioned using Bush as a five - way threat . The freshman quickly proved effective in carrying , catching , throwing and returning the ball . Bush was a consensus first - team Freshman All - American selection in 2003 , and became the first Trojan since Anthony Davis in 1974 to lead the Pacific - 10 Conference in kickoff returns . His 1 , 331 all - purpose yards set a USC freshman record . The ESPN Pac - 10 Newcomer of the Year also amassed 521 yards rushing that year , with three touchdowns on 91 carries . Alex Smith ( Kansas City Chiefs ) and Bush were both finalists for the 2004 Heisman , making it the first time a high school had two finalists at the same ceremony . In 2004 , Bush finished fifth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy and was named the team ' s MVP . He earned consensus All - American honors and was a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award . He finished second on the team with 143 carries for 908 yards ( 6 . 3 avg ) and six touchdowns , adding 509 yards and seven scores on 43 receptions ( 11 . 8 avg ) . Bush returned 21 kickoffs for 537 yards ( 25 . 6 avg ) and 24 punts for 376 yards ( 15 . 7 avg ) and a pair of touchdowns . He became the first Trojan since Marcus Allen to lead the Pac - 10 in all - purpose yardage , totaling 2 , 330 yards . He also threw for one touchdown , tossing a 52 - yard scoring strike . In 2005 Bush was a unanimous first - team All - American and winner of the Heisman Trophy . He was also named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year , the Pigskin Club of Washington , D . C . Offensive Player of the Year , and the Touchdown Club of Columbus ( Ohio ) Player of the Year . In addition to the Walter Camp Award , Bush also won the Doak Walker Award , which is given to the nation ' s best running back . He led the nation with an average of 222 . 3 all - purpose yards per game and finished fourth in the NCAA Division I - A ranks with an average of 133 . 85 rushing yards per game . He set the Pac - 10 record for all - purpose yards in a game , with 513 ( 294 rushing , 68 receiving , 151 return ) against the Fresno State Bulldogs on November 19 , 2005 . Bush also became known for the " Bush Push , " which occurred on a game - winning score against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish . Bush led the Trojans with 1 , 740 yards on 200 carries ( 8 . 7 avg ) with sixteen touchdowns and ranked third on the squad with 39 receptions for 481 yards ( 12 . 9 avg ) , including a pair of scores as a junior . He returned 18 punts for 179 yards ( 9 . 9 avg ) and a touchdown , and gained 493 yards on 28 kickoff returns ( 17 . 6 avg ) . Bush started only fourteen times in 39 games at USC . However , he finished tenth in NCAA Division I - A history with 6 , 541 all - purpose yards , racking up 3 , 169 yards and 25 touchdowns on 433 carries ( 7 . 3 avg ) and 1 , 301 yards with thirteen scores on 95 catches ( 13 . 7 avg ) . Bush returned 67 kickoffs for 1 , 522 yards and a touchdown , adding 559 yards and three scores on 44 punt returns ( 12 . 7 avg ) . He also completed one of three pass attempts for a 52 - yard touchdown . Legacy . By the end of the 2005 season , Bush had amassed 2 , 611 all - purpose yards and scored 18 touchdowns ( 15 rushing , 2 receiving , 1 punt return ) . He was awarded the Heisman Trophy on December 10 , 2005 . He had 784 first - place votes while University of Texas Longhorns quarterback Vince Young finished second with 79 first - place votes , an overall edge in voting points of 2 , 541 to Young ' s 1 , 608 . Teammate Matt Leinart came in third with 18 first - place votes . Bush had the second most first - place votes and the second - highest total points in the history of Heisman voting at that time , behind only O . J . Simpson ' s 855 in 1968 . Bush became the 71st winner of the Heisman Trophy , and the seventh USC player to receive the award . In addition to his Heisman Trophy , Bush also won the Doak Walker Award and Walter Camp Award , and was selected as the Pac - 10 ' s offensive player of the year . On January 4 , 2006 , Bush and Leinart became the first pair of Heisman Trophy winners to play together in a single game , against the Longhorns in the Rose Bowl . Bush amassed a total of 279 all - purpose yards ( 82 rushing yards , 95 receiving yards , 102 kickoff return yards ) and one touchdown , but he was overshadowed in a losing effort by Heisman runner - up Vince Young and Bush ' s teammate LenDale White , who led USC in rushing with 123 yards and three touchdowns . Bush also attempted to lateral when he was tackled after a long run , but the lateral fell to the ground and was recovered by the Longhorns . This game gave Bush a total of 6 , 890 all - purpose yards for his college career . NCAA investigation and lawsuits . Just before the 2006 draft , reports surfaced raising questions about whether Bush ' s family received gifts in violation of NCAA policies . The school requested that the conference investigate the matter , and Bush denied any impropriety . Sports agent Lloyd Lake sued Bush and his family in November 2007 for not repaying over $ 290 , 000 in gifts . Lake also agreed to cooperate with the NCAA . In April 2009 , the " Los Angeles Times " reported that the NCAA had merged its investigations of Bush and former USC basketball player O . J . Mayo into a single probe of the Trojans athletic programs . On December 28 , 2009 it was announced that Bush had lost his bid for confidential arbitration in this matter and that the case would proceed to trial . The case was settled in April 2010 . On June 10 , 2010 , the NCAA announced major sanctions against USC . The NCAA found that Bush had received lavish gifts from Lake and his partner , Michael Michaels , from at least December 2004 onward , including a limousine ride to the 2005 Heisman Trophy presentation . As a result , USC was given four years of probation and forced to vacate its last two wins of the 2004 season – including the 2005 Orange Bowl – as well as all of its wins in the 2005 season . The Trojans were also banned from bowl games in 2010 and 2011 and will lose 30 scholarships over three years . Running backs coach Todd McNair was banned from off - campus recruiting for one year after the NCAA determined he had known about Bush ' s dealings with the agents . The NCAA also forced USC to permanently disassociate itself from Bush . The NCAA found that , given Bush ' s high - profile status , USC should have invested more effort in monitoring Bush ' s relationships . In announcing the penalties , NCAA infractions committee chairman Paul Dee said , " High - profile players merit high - profile enforcement . " On July 20 , 2010 , incoming USC president Max Nikias stated that the school would remove from its facilities all jerseys and murals displayed in Bush ' s honor , and would return the school ' s copy of Bush ' s Heisman Trophy . On August 12 , " USA Today " reported that Bush had called USC ' s new athletic director , Pat Haden , and apologized for making poor decisions that led to the NCAA sanctions . However , in a subsequent report in the " Los Angeles Times " , Haden said that the characterization of Bush ' s call as an " apology " was incorrect ; Haden described it as " a conversation of him being contrite , but not an apology " , and he also noted that Bush had not admitted to any specific wrongful acts . Amidst reports that the Heisman Trophy Trust would strip his award , Bush in September voluntarily forfeited his title as the 2005 winner . The Heisman Trust decided to leave the award vacated with no new winner to be announced . The San Diego Hall of Champions sports museum returned the copy of the award it possessed back to Bush ' s parents in 2011 . Bush eventually returned his trophy to the Heisman Trust in 2012 . Track and field . Bush was also a track star . He competed in track at La Mesa ( CA ) Helix , placing third ( 10 . 72 ) - 1 . 7m in the 2002 California state 100 meters final and posting bests of 10 . 42 seconds in the 100 meters ( the fastest prep time in California in 2002 and the fastest among the nation ' s 2002 senior footballers ) and 21 . 06 seconds in the 200 meters ( third fastest prep in California in 2002 ) . Reggie is still 2nd all time on the 100m dash all time list for San Diego . He placed second in the boys ' 50 meters , clocking at 5 . 85 at the 2003 Los Angeles Invitational Indoor Meet . Professional career . 2006 NFL Draft . On January 12 , 2006 , Bush elected to forgo his senior season at USC and declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft . Draft analysts predicted that he would be the first overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft , held by the Houston Texans . However , in a surprising move on the night before the draft , the Texans signed Mario Williams , a defensive end from North Carolina State University , meaning that Bush would not be the first draft pick . Bush ' s representatives spoke that night with the New Orleans Saints , who said they intended to use the second overall pick to select Bush . Bush was indeed drafted by the Saints with the second overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft . The Houston Texans ' decision to not take Bush was derided by many sports analysts . At the time , ESPN commentator Len Pasquarelli claimed that Houston selecting Williams ahead of Bush was one of the biggest mistakes made in NFL Draft history . On April 26 , 2006 , three days prior to the draft , Bush had signed a multi - year endorsement with Adidas to promote football and training clothes , and help the athletic sportswear company launch cleats in 2007 . New Orleans Saints . 2006 season . Bush ' s selection by the New Orleans Saints in the NFL draft generated excitement and celebration among Saints fans . By the end of the week after the draft , Reebok reported receiving over 15 , 000 orders for Bush ' s Saints jersey , even though his jersey number with the Saints had not yet been determined . Bush had petitioned the NFL to wear the number 5 , which he has worn throughout his high school and college careers . However , in order for him to wear that number , the NFL would have to revise its numbering regulations , which require running backs to wear a number between 20 and 49 . Bush was allowed to wear the number 5 during the Saints ' minicamp practices pending the NFL ' s ruling . On May 23 , 2006 , the NFL competition committee officially rejected his request , and on May 25 it was officially announced that Bush would be wearing number 25 , acquired from Saints running back Fred McAfee . Although Bush had earlier pledged to donate a quarter of the money he received from jersey sales to Hurricane Katrina victims if allowed to wear the number 5 , he later said he would make that donation no matter what number he wears . As part of the deal with McAfee to wear the number 25 , Bush agreed to allocate half of that money to charities of McAfee ' s choosing , with the other half going to charities of Bush ' s choosing . McAfee pledged to donate his share to Katrina victims in his home state of Mississippi . Bush is second to Peyton Manning in NFL endorsement deals , amounting to roughly US $ 5 million annually . He has signed contracts with Pepsi , General Motors , Adidas , Pizza Hut and the Subway restaurant chain . Amazed by the warm reception he received from the fans in New Orleans as well as the magnitude of the devastation caused there by Hurricane Katrina , Bush expressed excitement about playing with the Saints and pledged to help the city recover from the hurricane . On May 15 , 2006 , Bush donated US $ 50 , 000 to help keep Holy Rosary High School , a Catholic school for students with learning disabilities , from closing . During training camp , Saints receiver Joe Horn dubbed him " Baby Matrix " because of his seemingly impossible evasive maneuvers ( apparently comparing him to the movie " The Matrix " , which features characters who move faster than humanly possible to dodge bullets ) . Bush ' s rookie season had both ups and downs , although as the season wore on he became more productive and integral to the Saints ' surprising success . In the first game of Bush ' s NFL career , he amassed 141 total yards against the Cleveland Browns . He carried the ball fewer times than his counterpart Deuce McAllister , putting off any speculation that he would immediately supplant McAllister as the starter in New Orleans . The Saints won the game by a score of 19 – 14 . In his team ' s week 9 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Bush finished the game with - 5 yards on 11 carries despite the Saints ' 31 - 14 victory . This effort lowered his league - worst rushing average among running backs to only 2 . 55 yards per carry . However , he finished the midway point of the season with 46 receptions , the most by any running back in the league . At the midway point of the season , Bush had yet to score a touchdown either receiving or running the ball ; however , on November 12 , 2006 , Bush rushed for his first touchdown from scrimmage on a reverse against the Pittsburgh Steelers . On December 3 , Bush tied the Saints ' single - game touchdown record , held by Joe Horn , by scoring four touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers . He gained 168 all - purpose yards as he sparked the Saints to their eighth win of the season . On December 10 , Bush scored a 62 - yard touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas , contributing to the Saints ' 42 – 17 drubbing of the Cowboys in what was expected to be a more competitive matchup that would be important to the playoff race . On December 24 , Bush scored a one - yard touchdown on a reverse against the New York Giants . Bush also had a career - high 126 rushing yards on the day . On December 31 , Bush scored a one - yard touchdown against the Carolina Panthers but carried the ball only three times , even though backfield counterpart Deuce McAllister did not play . This was because the New Orleans Saints had already clinched the No . 2 NFC seed in the playoffs . In the NFC Divisional Playoff game on January 13 , 2007 , Bush ran for 52 yards on 12 carries and scored a touchdown , and added three catches for 22 yards , as New Orleans edged the Philadelphia Eagles 27 – 24 to earn its first NFC Championship Game appearance in the team ' s 40 - year history . The game was also notable for the vicious hit that Bush absorbed from Sheldon Brown while attempting to catch a swing pass on the Saints ' first play of the game . On January 21 , in the NFC Championship playoff game , Bush caught a pass on the 22 and ran 78 yards downfield ( eluding the Chicago Bears safety ) for an 88 - yard touchdown thrown by Drew Brees . This comeback was the first score of the second half and closed the gap from 16 – 7 ( in favor of Chicago ) to 16 – 14 . That was the last time , however , the Saints would score . The Bears went on to trounce the Saints 39 – 14 to earn a berth to the Super Bowl . Bush was fined by the NFL after the game for US $ 5 , 000 for taunting : which consisted of wagging his finger at All - Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher and doing a somersault after the 88 - yard reception score . Bush apologized immediately after the event . 2007 season . In the season opener of the 2007 season , Bush and the Saints lost to the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts 41 – 10 . Bush was tied for a team - best 38 rushing yards on 12 carries . He also had seven yards on four receptions and a punt return for two yards in a disappointing opener for him and the Saints . Their next game was equally as disappointing , as the Saints were beaten 31 – 14 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bush averaged 2 . 7 yards per carry and 27 yards from scrimmage – over a third of which came on one play . Bush scored two rushing touchdowns , both one - yard runs , in the Saints ' Week 3 loss to the Tennessee Titans . In that game , Bush carried seven times for 15 yards while catching six passes for 20 yards . Bush finished the season with six total touchdowns and 581 yards rushing , averaging 3 . 6 yards per carry . Bush missed the final four games of the 2007 season with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee . 2008 season . Bush and the New Orleans Saints faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to open the 2008 season . With Deuce McAllister out due to injury , Bush started the game . He showed great improvement early in the season , particularly during Week 3 against the Denver Broncos , in which he had 18 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns , one touchdown that included a run up the middle , cutting back to the outside for 23 yards . He added a second touchdown on a six - yard swing pass from Drew Brees near the goal line . Bush ended the game with 11 receptions for 75 yards and one receiving touchdown . Since he came into the league , no running back has caught more passes out of the backfield than Bush , who collected 171 receptions in his first two years . On October 6 , in a home game against the Minnesota Vikings , he returned two punts for touchdowns and nearly had a third , tying an NFL record for single - game punt returns for touchdowns and becoming the 12th player to do so . In a home game against the Oakland Raiders on October 12 , Bush tied the NFL record for fastest time to his 200th catch , doing so in only 34 games . Bush was injured in the October 19 game against the Carolina Panthers . He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee the next day and was expected to miss the next three to four games . Bush returned on November 30 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and registered three carries for no yards and five catches for 32 yards in a 23 – 20 Saints loss . However , one week later he was back on track , producing over 100 yards from scrimmage and a TD catch in an important 29 – 25 home win against the division rival Atlanta Falcons to keep the Saints ' slim playoff hopes alive . On December 11 , Bush sprained his medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the Saints ' 27 – 24 overtime loss in Chicago . Although diagnosed as a sprain , given that it was the same knee he had surgery on earlier in the year – and that the Saints were now out of the playoff picture with only two games left in the 2008 season – Bush was placed on injured reserve , ending his season early for the second year in a row . He finished the season with 404 rushing yards on 106 carries , 440 yards receiving with 52 receptions and nine total touchdowns , playing in ten games . On January 7 , 2009 , the New Orleans Saints confirmed that Bush had surgery on his left knee , and would require months of rehabilitation . However , Bush was expected to be ready for minicamp in June . 2009 and Super Bowl season . On August 16 , 2009 , Bush left practice due to continuing problems with his left knee , later to return with his knee wrapped in an icepack . Bush and the Saints said that he iced the knee as a precaution . Bush missed the last three games of the 2009 preseason due to a calf injury and to rest his surgically repaired knee . Team officials called it precautionary in nature and stated that Bush would be ready to play during the regular season . Bush missed games 11 and 12 of the regular season due to soreness in his surgically repaired knee . He also missed most of game 15 due to a minor hamstring injury . Bush experienced career lows in every major category for the 2009 season . While he had 8 total touchdowns , good for 3rd on the team , Bush was used sparingly during the year . Bush ended the year playing in 14 games with 70 carries for 390 yards and 5 touchdowns , and 47 receptions for 335 yards and 3 touchdowns . On January 16 , 2010 , in the NFC divisional playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals , Bush had one of the best games of his pro career . He rushed for 84 yards on only 5 carries , including a 46 - yard touchdown run . This play was the longest run by a New Orleans Saints player in the postseason . He also added an 83 - yard punt return touchdown late in the third quarter , the Saints ' last score in their 45 – 14 win . In the NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 24 , Bush had only 8 yards rushing on 7 carries with 2 receptions for 33 yards , and he fumbled a punt return . However , one of his receptions was a late touchdown that helped the Saints win their first NFC championship and their first Super Bowl appearance and eventual victory in franchise history . On February 7 , 2010 , Bush won his first Super Bowl with a 31 – 17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Miami . 2010 season . Bush ' s 2010 season was overshadowed by the controversy over his Heisman Trophy , as well as other matters related to his years at USC . During the second regular - season game , a Monday Night Football contest with the San Francisco 49ers , he was injured while returning a punt . He did not return to the game . The injury was diagnosed as a broken bone in his right leg and he was expected to miss at least six weeks . He returned on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys . Miami Dolphins . 2011 season . On July 28 , 2011 , the Saints traded Bush to the Miami Dolphins for reserve safety Jonathon Amaya and a swap of 6th round draft picks . After an 0 – 7 start , during the Dolphins ' first win of the 2011 season against the Kansas City Chiefs , Bush scored his first rushing touchdown since 2009 . Bush also had his second career 100 - yard game against the New York Giants having rushed for 103 yards on just 15 carries . In Week 13 Bush rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a 34 – 14 win over the Oakland Raiders . Bush would again eclipse the 100 - yard mark in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles the following week , rushing for 103 yards on just 14 carries . On December 18 , Bush rushed for a career - high 203 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in a 30 – 23 win over the Buffalo Bills . Bush would rush for 113 yards on 22 carries on Christmas Eve in a losing effort at the New England Patriots . Early in the game , he eclipsed the 1 , 000 - yard rushing mark in a season for the first time in his pro career . 2012 season . After a solid week one against the top - tier Houston Texans , Bush broke out on the ground with 172 yards on a career - high 26 carries and two rushing touchdowns , as well as 25 reception yards , in a 35 – 13 win over the Oakland Raiders . Bush was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for week 2 , the second time since joining the Miami Dolphins , and third time in his career ( once in 2006 with the New Orleans Saints ) . Detroit Lions . Bush signed with the Detroit Lions on March 13 , 2013 . Yahoo ! Sports ’ Jason Cole reported that Detroit plans to utilize Bush as a “ three - down back ” and Bush described playing for the Lions as a “ running back ’ s dream . ” On his debut for the Lions , he recorded 191 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown . Career Stats . Rushing Stats Receiving Stats Returning Stats Media career and personal life . French mobile game publisher Gameloft announced on November 21 , 2006 that it had signed Bush as its cover athlete for " Reggie Bush Pro Football 2007 " , which was made available in January 2007 across multiple wireless carriers and cell phones . This marked the second cover endorsement for Bush , who was the cover athlete of Electronic Arts ' " NCAA Football 07 " . Gameloft did not secure the NFL license for this mobile game , which means that actual team names , logos and NFLPA players ( aside from Bush ) were not incorporated into the gameplay . In 2007 , he appeared in Ciara ' s music video " Like a Boy " . On June 26 , 2007 , David Beckham ' s first major U . S . TV ad campaign since joining the Los Angeles Galaxy made its debut via the web . Titled " Futbol Meets Football " , it paired Beckham with Bush in a 13 - part video series , with additional television , radio and online promotion by Adidas . In August 2007 , he signed a deal with Sirius Satellite Radio to be a weekly announcer for the 2007 season . At one time Bush dated WWE Diva Eve Torres while at USC . Bush then dated Kim Kardashian . Their relationship began after being introduced by Matt Leinart at the July 11 , 2007 ESPY Awards . They split on July 27 , 2009 and got back together on September 28 , 2009 . They split again in late March 2010 . Bush was nominated for Male Athlete of the Year at the 2007 and 2009 BET Awards . Bush was featured almost shirtless on the February 2010 cover of Essence as part of an issue about " Black Men , Love & Relationships . " However , this appearance generated controversy as some among the magazine ' s readers took offense to Bush on the cover of such an issue ; at the time he was involved with Kim Kardashian and Bush was accused of only dating non - black women . Also in 2010 , Bush ' s fundraising work for organizations that benefit Haiti and diamond - producing countries in Africa earned him a nomination for the VH1 Do Something Awards . Specifically , Bush worked on behalf of the Diamond Empowerment Fund , visiting Botswana and South Africa and raising money for education there . He is a founding member of the Fund ' s Athletes for Africa program . The awards show , produced by VH1 , is dedicated to honoring people who do good and is powered by Do Something , an organization that aims to empower , celebrate , and inspire young people . In August 2011 , Reggie starred in an episode of Same Name , where he stayed with the Bush family on their farm in Illinois for four days . In this episode , Reggie helped coach the Schlarman high school football team , and at the end of his stay , he presented the high school with a refurbished football locker room , as well as flying the Bush family to Hawaii for a week and paying for Cindy ' s first year of college . In March 2012 , Reggie became a partner and spokesperson for skincare company Barc , makers of Bump Down Razor Bump Relief . In October 2012 , it was reported that Bush and his girlfriend of over a year , Lilit Avagyan , were expecting their first child together . On May 6 , 2013 , Lilit gave birth to the couple ' s first child , a daughter named Briseis .