Worked with the Steelers through 2018 as their LB coach.
Popped up again on the radar of the XFL in 2023 as Hines Ward’s LB coach for a season.
Upper Deck 2006, #10SJP
NOTES:
When I heard that Joey Porter was Hines Ward LB coach- I was excited to see if I could add him in person. The Brahmas were very… stubborn about in person events, even though they promised meet and greets. Later in the season, the team had one in Boerne for the Wounded Warrior Project. When the whole team was announced to be attending I selected out a few cards, hoping I could get him. I was really happy to get him on these two, as he had a pretty decent line. Age seems to be catching up to him, as he has a noticeable hobble from all his injuries playing the game.
Of note, was a chance I missed. I correctly IDed his son, Joey Porter Jr who happened to be there with him. He was surprised and amused that I picked him out of the crowd, but grimaced when I suggested he’d be a great fit for the Texans.
Brahmas finished 3-7 in first season under Hines in 2023.
After the season, refused to sign updated contract, and quit the league.
NOTES:
Before the XFL season began the team had a meet and greet with fans at Alamo Brewing Company. Alongside Hines were a few players, who were obviously team captains. I had 3 cards, but Hines only signed 2. There were a lot of people there and I didn’t want to press my luck for more at the time. The humidity was pretty high for the time and I guess these autographs didn’t stick as well as they should. I was a bit disappointed, but the autographs look better in person than scanned in here.
Malcolm played OL at Miami, eventually transferring to UCLA for graduate studies.
After not being selected in the 2015 NFL Draft, he embarked on a series of stops with the Eagles (2015), Tiger-Cats (2017), Jaguars (2017), and Giants (2018).
Bunche got seasoning playing for an exceptionally good OL with the Arizona Hotshots of the AAF in 2019.
He had two more short stops with the Giants and Redskins immediately after that before closing out the year.
Bunche then played for the Washington Defenders of the XFL in 2020.
After a brief hiatus he played with the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL 2023.
NOTES:
Malcolm was a nice grab that I picked up during the Purple Heart Event that the team was at in Boerne in April. I was wearing my AJ Tarpley jersey and my guy Kameron Kelly stopped me to admire it and take a photo with me. Malcolm came up to compliment me as he too was an AAF vet from his days with the Hotshots. When I produced his XFL card from my pile of stuff, he was duly impressed and gleefully signed it.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
