What Happened to Reggie Bush?

Reggie Bush, the ex-NFL running back, had an excellent 11-season career. After retirement, he ventured into the field of media and beacem a college soccer analyst at Fox Sports. Originally from Spring Valley, California, he gained fame at USC. Winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005 solidified his legacy as a pinnacle college football player.

Bush was chosen in the second overall round in the 2006 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and played a vital role in the 2010 Super Bowl win. He later played for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and the San Franciso 49ers until his retirement in 2017. Bush was recognized for his versatility as a runner as well as a pass catcher. He also earned the title of All-Pro punt returner in the 2008 season.

His career statistics are outstanding: 5,490 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, 3,598 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns. Despite his injuries, Bush made a huge impact and went into the College Football Hall of Fame.

In 2018, he settled a $12.5 million lawsuit against the NFL and the Saints due to injuries from a 2015 stadium incident. This incident was a turning point in his NFL journey.

Today, enjoys family life with his wife Lilit Avagyan and two kids.

What was taken from Reggie Bush?

Reggie Bush was among those whom the NCAA penalized for taking extra money during his time as a student-athlete at USC. According to the investigation conducted by the NCAA, Bush was found to have received luxurious gifts from Sports agent Lloyd Lake and his partner Michael Michaels. A prime example of such gifts included a limousine ride arranged for Bush to his Heisman Trophy Award.

In 2010, the new president of USC stated that the school would be removing anything and everything related to Bush’s football honors from the campus which included his jerseys and wall murals. As per reports, his records were also wiped off.

The Heisman Trophy which he received was going to be taken away as well due to which Bush himself surrendered the award.

Reinstatement of the Heisman Trophy

On April 24, 2024, the Heisman Trust reinstated Bush's Heisman Trophy Award after nearly 14 years after which he had surrendered it. This reinstatement may have come from the fact that nowadays, NIL has taken over the college sports landscape in the United States and what Bush was accused of doing was more or less along similar grounds.

As a result of the reinstatement, Bush was handed over his original Heisman Trophy while his University, (USC) received a replica.

Reggie Bush’s Parents

Reggie Bush's parents are Denise Griffin and Lamar Griffin. They went through a divorce in 2011. Denise Griffin works as a homemaker, while Lamar Griffin is involved in business. They brought up Reggie and his half-brother, Jovan, in Spring Valley, California.

Denise Griffin has consistently been a strong pillar of support for Reggie's football journey. She frequently attended his games, offering enthusiastic cheers. She also stepped up to defend Reggie when he faced accusations of NCAA violations.

Lamar Griffin takes pride in being Reggie's father. He's expressed that Reggie is a good-hearted individual who made a mistake. Lamar has voiced his belief in Reggie's innocence regarding the NCAA allegations.