I am counting down the top 25 players in USFL history, concluding with the announcement of the No. 1 guy on Sept. 10—the eve of the release date for Football for a Buck.
The list comes after years of writing and researching my book, as well as a lifetime of loving the long, lost spring football league.
There have been books throughout my career that were written because the moment was right. There have been books throughout my career that felt like pure labor (sorry, Roger Clemens). But Football for a Buckis pure passion. Everything about the USFL spoke to me. The colors. The uniforms. The nicknames. The stars. The scrubs. It felt real and gritty and authentic.
Hence, the book.
Hence, the list.
Also, a quick point: This has 0 to do with what the players later became. NFL accomplishments are insignificant here. It’s all about the USFL.
So, with no further ado …
No. 10: Luther Bradley
Cornerback
Chicago Blitz (1983)
Arizona Wranglers (1984)
Houston Gamblers (1985)
So I’m not sure there’s even been a more USFL-ish player than Luther Bradley, the former Notre Dame All-American who played four seasons with the Detroit Lions and one with the Houston Oilers before signing with the Chicago Blitz in 1983.
Bradley was the sort of defensive back fans love and coaches hate. What I mean is, he was Erik McMillan before Erik McMillan—a I-need-interceptions-more-than-I-need-food ballhawk who would take endless risks in pursuit of the football. At its best, that meant Bradley could gobble up footballs, as he did in college (his 17 interceptions remain the Irish all-time record). At its worst, that meant burners like Anthony Carter and Jojo Townsell streaking by with ease.
Because the USFL was a land of gamblers (and Gamblers), Bradley was right at home. And in an April 2, 1983 game against the Tampa Bay Bandits, Bradley intercepted a pro football record six passes. Six! He wound up with 12 for the season, then six more the following year as a Wrangler. In 1985, the USFL’s swan song, Bradley collected 12 more picks.
He is, with ease, the USFL’s all-time leader in the category.
And, by extension, an all-time USFL great.
Player No. 25: Tim Spencer
Player No. 24: Chuck Clanton
Player No. 23: Maurice Carthon
Player No. 22: Marcus Marek
Player No. 21: Jimmy Smith
Player No. 20: John Reaves
Player No. 19: Richard Johnson
Player No. 18: Irv Eatman
Player No. 17: Peter Raeford
Player No. 16: Trumaine Johnson
Player No. 15: David Greenwood
Player No. 14: Joey Walters
Player No. 13: Gary Zimmerman
Player No. 12: Reggie White
Player No. 11: John Corker
Player No. 10: Luther Bradley
