Bruce Thornton (defensive lineman)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1958)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bruce Thornton
| number = 77, 79
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|2|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 263
| high_school = Detroit (MI) Chadsey
| college = Illinois
| draftyear = 1979
| draftround = 8
| draftpick = 219
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1979}}–{{NFL Year|1981}})
- St. Louis Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1982}}–{{NFL Year|1983}})
- Chicago Blitz ({{USFL Year|1984}})*
- Denver Gold ({{USFL Year|1984}}–{{USFL Year|1985}})
| highlights =
- All-USFL ({{USFL Year|1985}})
| statlabel1 = Sacks
| statvalue1 = 10.5
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 1
| pfr = ThorBr20
}}
Bruce Edward Thornton (born February 14, 1958) is an American former professional football defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Cardinals. He was also a member of the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of Illinois.
Early life
Thornton attended Chadsey High School. Besides playing defensive tackle, he was also an accomplished saxophonist and received music scholarships offers.
He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Illinois. As a junior, he was a starter at defensive tackle and led the Big Ten Conference in sacks with 10. In his final year, he was moved to a backup role behind John Thiede, on a team that finished with a record of 1–8–2. He finished his college career with 32 sacks, placing him at the time fifth in school's history.{{cite news| title=Cowboys' Thornton has last laugh on Illinois coach | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=September 17, 1979 | page=52}}
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys=
Thornton was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the eighth round (219th overall) of the 1979 NFL draft, after dropping because of his diminished production as a college senior. As a rookie, he helped to compensate the loss of Ed "Too Tall" Jones to his boxing retirement, by coming on passing downs in place of Larry Cole at left defensive end and unofficially finishing second on the team with 6 sacks.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19810915&id=AlwtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ydkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3559,3204787 | title=Steelers try out two players | access-date=January 13, 2023}} His best game came against the Chicago Bears when he registered 2 sacks, one pass defensed and a blocked extra point.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19790917&id=j2MaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-yoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3857,4948830 | title=Cowboys' Experience Tops Bears | access-date=January 13, 2023 | archive-date=April 1, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401190144/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19790917&id=j2MaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-yoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3857,4948830 | url-status=dead }}
In 1980, the return of Jones reduced his playing time, unofficially posting 3 sacks, including one against Vince Ferragamo in the NFC Wild Card Game. He would remain as a pass-rush specialist during the rest of his career with the Cowboys.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19811230&id=Xa0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6113,8234778 | title=Ditka Eyed As Bear Boss | access-date=January 13, 2023}}
Thornton was waived on August 31, 1981,{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1798&dat=19810901&id=0uQcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W44EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3549,93625 | title=Johnson doesn't plan on leaving Dallas lineup | access-date=January 13, 2023}} before being re-signed after Don Smerek injured a knee in the second game of the season and was placed on the injured reserve list. He was cut on September 6, 1982.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19820907&id=pI0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MegFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6709,1339022 | title=Transactions | access-date=January 13, 2023}}
=St. Louis Cardinals=
On September 7, 1982, he was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/08/sports/transactions-136692.html | title=Transactions | access-date=January 13, 2023}} He was placed on the injured reserve list on August 30, 1983,{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/31/sports/no-headline-135197.html | title=Transactions | access-date=January 13, 2023}} before being released on October 4.
=Chicago Blitz=
On November 22, 1983, he was signed by the Chicago Blitz of the United States Football League.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/23/sports/transactions-062866.html | title=Transactions | access-date=January 13, 2023}} On March 28, 1984, he was traded to the Denver Gold in exchange for linebacker Bob Knapton and an undisclosed 1985 draft choice.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19640329&id=SqZTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7YcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1805,8036266 | title=Gold Gets End | access-date=January 13, 2023}}
=Denver Gold=
In 1985, he led the Denver Gold in sacks with 12.5 (third in the league) and received All-League honors.
Personal life
His son Kalen Thornton also played for the Dallas Cowboys.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Cowboys1979DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, Bruce}}
Category:Players of American football from Detroit
Category:American football defensive linemen
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players