Gail Bruce

Gail Robert Bruce (September 29, 1923 – August 23, 1998) was an American professional football defensive end who played four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 30th round of the 1946 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Washington.

Early life and college

Gail Robert Bruce was born on September 29, 1923, in Puyallup, Washington. He attended Puyallup High School in Puyallup.

He signed with the San Francisco 49ers of the All-America Football Conference in 1948. He played in all 14 games for the 49ers in 1948, catching five passes for 49 yards. He started all 12 games for the second straight year in 1951, recovering two fumbles and scoring one extra point. Bruce suffered a career-ending ankle injury in September 1952 before the start of the 1952 season.

Personal life In 1953, Bruce started working for Lucky Lager. He later started his own company called the All-American Beverage Co. He also spent time as the director of the Santa Maria Valley YMCA. He died on August 23, 1998, in Santa Maria, California.