Highlighted Year: Bruce Harper, 1977

Halfback, New York Jets

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Kutztown State

Height: 5’8”   Weight: 174

Prelude:

Playing at a small school, Harper rushed for 2169 yards in three varsity seasons and was an honorable mention Little All-American in 1976. He went undrafted by the NFL but signed with the Jets as a free agent in ’77. What Harper lacked in size, he made up for with speed and versatility and made the club as a backup halfback who primarily returned kicks.

1977 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 44

Most attempts, game – 8 (for 33 yds.) vs. New England 10/2

Yards – 198

Most yards, game – 33 yards (on 4 carries) at Houston 9/18, (on 8 carries) vs. New England 10/2

Average gain – 4.5

TDs – 0

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 21      

Most receptions, game – 4 (for 32 yds.) vs. Baltimore 9/25

Yards – 209

Most yards, game – 55 (on 1 catch) at Buffalo 10/9

Average gain – 10.0

TDs – 1

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 0

Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 42 [1]

Yards – 1035 [1]

Most yards, game – 122 (on 3 ret.) at New Orleans 12/4

Average per return – 24.6 [8]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 60 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 34 [10, tied with Howard Stevens]

Yards – 425 [5]

Most yards, game – 66 (on 5 ret.) vs. Buffalo 12/11

Average per return – 12.5 [6]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 49 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1867 [3, 1^st in AFC]

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Jets went 3-11 to finish fourth in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

Continuing to perform well as a utility player, Harper led the AFC in all-purpose yards in each of the next three seasons and the entire NFL in 1978 (2157) and ’80 (2072). He also topped the league in kickoff return yards in 1978 and ’79 and had his best year as a punt returner in 1978, averaging 12.6 yards on 30 returns that included a touchdown. Effective in a limited role out of the backfield, Harper’s top rushing season was 1981, when he carried 81 times for 393 yards (4.9 avg.) and four TDs. Used more as a pass receiver, he gained 634 yards on 50 catches in 1980 and topped out at 52 receptions for 459 yards in ’81. Harper spent his entire career with the Jets until suffering a career-ending ACL tear in 1984. Overall, he compiled 11,429 all-purpose yards, with 1829 on 374 rushing attempts (4.9 avg.), 2409 on 220 pass receptions (11.0 avg.), 1784 on 183 punt returns (9.7 avg.), and 5407 on 243 kickoff returns (22.3 avg.). He scored a total of 21 touchdowns.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970