Reggie Bush is suing his former school, the NCAA, and the Pac-12 to reclaim earnings from his college football career’s image and likeness. The announcement came on September 23, 2024, when Bush’s attorneys released a statement about the lawsuit filing.
On Monday, September 23, Bush’s attorneys stated that he needed payment to correct ongoing injustices resulting from the exploitation of his name, image, and likeness as a USC football player. However, details regarding the planned suit weren’t disclosed in the release.
Why Is Reggie Bush Suing the USC?
Addressing the lawsuit, Bush’s attorney said, “This case is not just about seeking justice for Reggie Bush. It’s about setting a precedent for the fair treatment of all college athletes.”
The attorney added, “Our goal is to rectify this injustice and pave the way for a system where athletes are rightfully recognized, compensated, and treated fairly for their contributions.”
Reggie Bush was a standout player during his time at the University of Southern California from 2003 to 2005. On December 10, 2005, Bush won the Heisman Trophy. However, in 2020, he lost it due to USC’s sanctions related to his dealings with sports marketers.
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Subsequently, in 2024, Bush’s Heisman Trophy was returned and reinstated by the Heisman Trust. The organization stated that the trophy was returned due to significant college athletic developments in the last 14 years.
This lawsuit comes in the wake of his defamation lawsuit against the NCAA regarding its 2021 depiction of the events leading to his troubles. While Bush and USC had a very cordial relationship this year, it is unknown how this new lawsuit will impact that.
Earlier in the 2024 season, Reggie Bush led the current Trojans out of the Coliseum tunnel. He also celebrated the return of his Heisman Trophy with a news conference atop the Coliseum last spring.
Reggie Bush’s Lawsuit and Career
One of the all-time greats in college football, Reggie Bush, just won $12.5 million in a lawsuit involving a slip and fall. On November 1, 2015, during his visit to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, Bush was shoved out of bounds and slipped on a concrete strip.
Consequently, he was forced to miss the rest of the season after tearing the lateral meniscus in his left knee. The following season, Bush signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills, although he did not play and received a lesser salary.
On January 8, 2016, he sued St. Louis CVC and the St. Louis Rams, the owners and operators of the stadium where he fell, under the premises liability or “slip and fall” accident theory.
On June 13, 2018, the court found the St. Louis Rams were responsible for negligence on game day as they controlled the stadium, not the St. Louis CVC. Additionally, a similar fall in what Bush and his attorney called a “concrete ring of death” left another player injured in 2015.
Consequently, the court found that the St. Louis Rams were aware of the risk and did nothing to alert Bush or stop the harm that would have resulted from it. Afterward, on December 15, 2017, Reggie Bush announced his retirement from the NFL.
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Is Reggie Bush a Hall of Famer?
Reggie Bush was one of 18 players and four coaches inducted into the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class. Bush set an NCAA record with an astounding 7.3 yards per carry during his career, and he led the NCAA with 222.3 all-purpose yards per game, finishing fourth nationally with 133.9 rushing yards per game in 2005.
Who is Reggie Bush’s Wife?
Reggie Bush’s wife is Lilit Bush. The two began dating in 2011 after Bush ended his three-year relationship with Kim Kardashian in 2010. Subsequently, in 2014, Bush and Lilit got married, welcoming three kids over ten years of their marriage.
Reggie Bush’s wife, Lilit, is a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer whose winning records go as far back as 2005. In 2008, Lilit and dancer Grigori Sedrakyan took home the amateur Latin title from the National Dance Council.
They additionally finished second in Melbourne, Australia’s Latin World Championship in 2008. On May 6, 2013, Reggie Bush and Lilit welcomed their first child, a daughter named Briseis.
On July 12, 2015, their son Uriah was born, and on September 2, 2017, their youngest son, Agyeman, was born. Lilit claims that all of the children are carrying on their parents’ athletic tendencies.
How Many Years Did Reggie Bush Play for USC?
Bush played for the Trojans under head coach Pete Carroll from 2003 to 2005 while attending the University of Southern California. The rookie showed proficiency with the ball in terms of carrying, catching, throwing, and returning it. After Anthony Davis in 1974, Bush was the first Trojan to lead the Pacific-10 Conference in kickoff returns.
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He was a unanimous choice for the first team of the 2003 Freshman All-American team. He broke the freshman record at USC with 1,331 all-purpose yards. In his two years with USC, Bush won two national titles and the Heisman trophy before going on to an 11-year NFL career.
Reacting to the news of Bush’s lawsuit, USC released a statement saying, “Reggie will always be a revered member of the Trojan Family, and we were very pleased to support his successful efforts to recover his Heisman Trophy.”
“We have not received a copy of the lawsuit, so we are unable to address its allegations,” the school added. Bush is the latest ex-athlete to sue for payment following new NCAA rules for past sports careers.
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