Photo by: AP
Michael Bush to be Inducted into the 2025 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame
February 06, 2025 | Football
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former University of Louisville running back Michael Bush was one of five former players to be named to the 23rd Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Class slated for June that will benefit the Foster Care Council.
The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame is excited to announce we will be inducting the following into our Hall of Fame:
Danny Trevathan, Michael Bush, Alex Bannister, and Sam Gruneisen. The Pioneer award winner is Walt Yaworsky.
The Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group will also be giving their award for integrity to Coach Romeo Crennel.
A standout running back for the Cardinals, Bush rushed for 2,508 yards and 39 touchdowns and caught 50 passes for 651 yards and two touchdown during his three seasons with the Cardinals. He had six 100-yard rushing games in 2005 when he set a single-season school record for rushing touchdowns (23) that still stands.
Bush played in three bowl games, including a dominating fourth quarter rushing performance in a 44-40 win over Boise State in the 2004 Liberty Bowl in a top-10 match-up. In 2004, Bush was a key component in leading the Cardinals to an 11-1 record and a Conference USA title.
As a senior, he rushed for 128 yards and three scores in the Cardinals' opening win over Kentucky before suffering a season-ending injury in the third quarter. Bush was drafted by Oakland, and played four years for the Raiders and two with the Chicago Bears, recording 3,250 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns and 1,010 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
A two-sport athlete at Male High, Bush twice earned the Paul Hornung Award as the state's best prep football player, was named Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior and was runner-up for Mr. Basketball, averaging 21.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. As a sophomore and junior, he amassed 3,031 yards and 37 touchdowns as a receiver and led the team in tackles. As a senior quarterback, he passed for 2,891 yards and 35 touchdowns and was a workhorse in the memorable 59-56 state championship loss to Trinity: he passed for 468 yards and six touchdowns, rushed for 116 yards and a score, caught two passes, recorded five tackles, and returned one punt and one kickoff.
The official induction ceremony weekend will take place in Lexington, Kentucky, with the 2025 inductees receiving their Hall of Fame jackets from the mayor of Lexington on Friday, June 27th followed by the Purple Jacket Dinner at the Hilton Downtown Lexington Hotel. The public is invited to the Purple Jacket Dinner and to purchase bourbon bottles autographed by our Hall of Fame members and inductees. "We are excited to welcome back all of our Hall of Famers to help induct our 2025 class.", says Executive Director Franky Minnifield.
"Kentucky is the only state in the country with a pro football hall of fame," said Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, chair of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, Inc. board of directors. "We're in a unique position to recognize great accomplishments in football, but also have as our main objective to offer financial assistance to organizations that enrich the lives of children."
Proceeds from the 2025 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony and golf outing will support The Foster Care Council. "The Foster Care Council is honored and proud to have been chosen by the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame as their beneficiary for 2025 "said Cassie Slone, Executive Director of The Foster Care Council.
""We're excited about our relationship with The Foster Care Council whose mission is to provide academic, enrichment, clothing, and mentorship opportunities for foster children throughout Kentucky that have been removed from their home due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect, "said Collier-McLaughlin.
Inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025 are:
The legendary Coach Romeo Crennel will receive the 18th annual Blanton Collier Award for Integrity named after the famous UK and Cleveland Browns coach. The award recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding integrity both on and off the field. He has over 50 years of coaching experience, which has included consistently being employed as a coach for all but two seasons since 1970, only taking the 2009 and 2013 seasons off following both of his tenures as a permanent head coach. He has won five Super Bowl wins as an assistant coach, two with the New York Giants and three with the New England Patriots. Crennel is also the first black head coach for the Texans and the Browns.
Sponsorship packages for the 2025 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony are currently available through the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame at 859-276-3488. For more information please go to www.kyprofootballhof.org.
The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame is excited to announce we will be inducting the following into our Hall of Fame:
Danny Trevathan, Michael Bush, Alex Bannister, and Sam Gruneisen. The Pioneer award winner is Walt Yaworsky.
The Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group will also be giving their award for integrity to Coach Romeo Crennel.
A standout running back for the Cardinals, Bush rushed for 2,508 yards and 39 touchdowns and caught 50 passes for 651 yards and two touchdown during his three seasons with the Cardinals. He had six 100-yard rushing games in 2005 when he set a single-season school record for rushing touchdowns (23) that still stands.
Bush played in three bowl games, including a dominating fourth quarter rushing performance in a 44-40 win over Boise State in the 2004 Liberty Bowl in a top-10 match-up. In 2004, Bush was a key component in leading the Cardinals to an 11-1 record and a Conference USA title.
As a senior, he rushed for 128 yards and three scores in the Cardinals' opening win over Kentucky before suffering a season-ending injury in the third quarter. Bush was drafted by Oakland, and played four years for the Raiders and two with the Chicago Bears, recording 3,250 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns and 1,010 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
A two-sport athlete at Male High, Bush twice earned the Paul Hornung Award as the state's best prep football player, was named Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior and was runner-up for Mr. Basketball, averaging 21.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. As a sophomore and junior, he amassed 3,031 yards and 37 touchdowns as a receiver and led the team in tackles. As a senior quarterback, he passed for 2,891 yards and 35 touchdowns and was a workhorse in the memorable 59-56 state championship loss to Trinity: he passed for 468 yards and six touchdowns, rushed for 116 yards and a score, caught two passes, recorded five tackles, and returned one punt and one kickoff.
The official induction ceremony weekend will take place in Lexington, Kentucky, with the 2025 inductees receiving their Hall of Fame jackets from the mayor of Lexington on Friday, June 27th followed by the Purple Jacket Dinner at the Hilton Downtown Lexington Hotel. The public is invited to the Purple Jacket Dinner and to purchase bourbon bottles autographed by our Hall of Fame members and inductees. "We are excited to welcome back all of our Hall of Famers to help induct our 2025 class.", says Executive Director Franky Minnifield.
"Kentucky is the only state in the country with a pro football hall of fame," said Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, chair of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, Inc. board of directors. "We're in a unique position to recognize great accomplishments in football, but also have as our main objective to offer financial assistance to organizations that enrich the lives of children."
Proceeds from the 2025 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony and golf outing will support The Foster Care Council. "The Foster Care Council is honored and proud to have been chosen by the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame as their beneficiary for 2025 "said Cassie Slone, Executive Director of The Foster Care Council.
""We're excited about our relationship with The Foster Care Council whose mission is to provide academic, enrichment, clothing, and mentorship opportunities for foster children throughout Kentucky that have been removed from their home due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect, "said Collier-McLaughlin.
Inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025 are:
| NAME/HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL | COLLEGE | NFL TEAM |
| Danny Trevathan Hometown: Youngstown OH |
Leesburg High School | University of Kentucky | Denver Broncos Chicago Bears |
| Michael Bush Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky |
Louisville Male High School | University of Louisville | Oakland Raiders Chicago Bears Arizona Cardinals |
| Alex Bannister Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio |
Cincinnati Hughes Center High School | Eastern Kentucky University | Chicago Bears Seattle Seahawks Baltimore Ravens |
| Sam Gruneisen Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky |
St. Xavier (Louisville) | Villanova | San Diego Chargers Houston Oilers |
| Walt Yoworsky Hometown: Cleveland, OH |
Lincoln High School | University of Kentucky | Washington Redskins Detroit Lions New York Giants San Francisco 49ers |
The legendary Coach Romeo Crennel will receive the 18th annual Blanton Collier Award for Integrity named after the famous UK and Cleveland Browns coach. The award recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding integrity both on and off the field. He has over 50 years of coaching experience, which has included consistently being employed as a coach for all but two seasons since 1970, only taking the 2009 and 2013 seasons off following both of his tenures as a permanent head coach. He has won five Super Bowl wins as an assistant coach, two with the New York Giants and three with the New England Patriots. Crennel is also the first black head coach for the Texans and the Browns.
Sponsorship packages for the 2025 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony are currently available through the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame at 859-276-3488. For more information please go to www.kyprofootballhof.org.
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