Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Former NFL offensive lineman Bruce Reimers stands in front of his football quilt at his home in Humboldt earlier this week.

Growing up in a household with seven children, if Bruce Reimers wanted something, he had to fight his way to the front of the line.

When it came to Sundays and the television, Reimers always made sure he got there first.

It wasn’t a sitcom or a cartoon for his viewing pleasure, though — it was football. From the first to the last game on the set, Reimers was tuned in.

“On Sundays when I was a kid, I was always watching,” Reimers said. “Back then, we only had ABC, CBS, NBC and Public TV. So (a scheduled game) was special and wasn’t nearly as popular as it is now.”

That ritual was part of a bigger dream, which started in high school at Humboldt and led Reimers to Iowa State University. The NFL draft and a career with the Cincinnati Bengals followed, which ultimately brought him a playing experience in Super Bowl XXIII.

The Algona native, who was raised in Humboldt, envisioned playing in the NFL at a young age. Reimers’ time as a Cyclone eventually landed him an eighth-round draft spot as a professional.

“When I was first drafted, I just wanted to do it no matter what it took,” Reimers said. “I had always dreamed of playing in the NFL. It was in the back of my mind that I could.”

At birth, Reimers was 10 pounds, 11 ounces. Some would say he was build like a football player from the start, and destined to be a lineman.

“I just loved the fact that you could take out all your frustrations out on the field,” Reimers said. “You could show your aggression and have fun while doing it.”

After a brilliant career at Humboldt — earning first team all-state defensive honors in 1979 and eventually a spot in the IHSAA Hall of Fame — Reimers had to make his college choice.

Both Iowa and Iowa State had new coaches for the fall of 1979: Donnie Duncan at Iowa State, and the now-legendary Hayden Fry at Iowa.

“One of Hayden Fry’s first (recruiting) visits was to Humboldt,” Reimers said. “It took a few years and some change and Hayden had them in the Rose Bowl, but I never second-guessed choosing Iowa State.”

Earle Bruce started recruiting Reimers in his final year as the ISU head coach for the defensive line. In his second season in Ames, Reimers switched to the offensive line for the Cyclones.

Reimers started all 11 games at guard as a sophomore, and the Cyclones climbed as high as 11th in the Associated Press poll.

Reimers earned first team All-Big Eight honors as a senior. Ultimately, he was inducted into the Iowa State Hall of Fame in 2009.

After Iowa State, Reimers was drafted as the 204th pick of the eighth round by Cincinnati. He played eight seasons with the Bengals, before being traded to Tampa Bay for two seasons.

Reimers was on the legendary 1988 Bengals team that reached the Super Bowl, where they faced San Francisco 49ers.

Reimers played under Sam Wyche in Cincinnati. After Wyche was fired in 1991, Reimers went to Tampa Bay to play for his former coach.

“We were very blessed and fortunate to play 10 years in the league,” Reimers said. “It meant so much to me, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

“I love the game of football.”

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series leading up to the Super Bowl. In Friday’s sports section, Remiers looks back at the Bengals’ 1988 Super Bowl season.