Hall of Fame
Position: Offensive Tackle
Years: 1981-84
Place of Birth: Nuremberg, Bavaria
Date of Birth: June 27, 1962
Jersey Number: 69
Height: 6 ft 6 in
Weight: 300 lb
High School: Robert E. Lee (San Antonio, Texas)
Bruce Collie starred on the offensive line at the University of Texas at Arlington from 1981–84, establishing himself as one of the most dominant linemen in the nation. The San Antonio, Texas, native becomes the first person ever from the Mavericks program to enter the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
Collie utilized his 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame with exceptional strength, leverage, and technique to create an imposing force on the offensive line, and his efforts led to UTA's sustained success during the early 1980s, including a Southland Conference championship and a 10-2 record in 1981.
Despite returning from an ankle injury, Collie delivered an outstanding senior season, earning First Team All-America honors from both the Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association in 1984. He claimed Honorable Mention All-America recognition as both a sophomore and junior.
His powerful run blocking and dependable pass protection, which fueled the offense's ground game and air attack, also earned him three consecutive All-Southland Conference selections, establishing him as one of the premier linemen at the Division I-AA level.
His college accolades led to his invitation to the prestigious Blue-Gray All-Star Game, and he was selected in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He played in the NFL from 1985 to 1991, winning two Super Bowls in 1989 and 1990 with the 49ers before concluding his career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Born in Nuremberg, Bavaria, West Germany, to American parents stationed there, Collie relocated to San Antonio, Texas, at age three, where he attended Robert E. Lee High School and excelled in football. After his professional football career, he returned to Texas, raising 13 children and operating family-owned businesses in Wimberley.?
He was inducted into the UT Arlington Athletics Hall of Honor in 2002 and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
