In December 2015, Bush rejected a scholarship offer from Florida State, where his father played, and committed instead to play college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team. In February 2016, Michigan hired Bush's father as a defensive analyst for the football coaching staff. Bush enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2016. He appeared in all 13 games as a freshman for the 2016 Michigan Wolverines football team. He earned a reputation as the hardest hitting player on the Michigan team. In April 2017, Bush impressed observers in the spring game.
2017 season
Bush won the starting job at inside linebacker on the 2017 Michigan team. In the season opener against Florida, he posted a team-high seven tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks. Two weeks later, he had a career-high 12 tackles against Air Force on September 16, 2017. Through the first three games of the season, he led the Big Ten Conference with four sacks and five tackles for loss. After Michigan defeated Purdue on September 23, Nick Baumgardner of the Detroit Free Press credited Bush with 13 "impact plays" in the game, rated him the best player on Michigan's defensive unit, and called him "more or less, a one-man wrecking crew." During the 2017 season, Bush was tied for seventh in the conference with 94 stops, including 35 solo tackles. His 9.5 tackles for loss include 5.0 sacks. Following the 2017 season, Bush was named to the All-Big Ten defensive first-team by the coaches, and second-team by the media. He was also named a Second-Team All-American by Walter Camp Football Foundation.
2018 season
Prior to the 2018 season, Bush was voted captain of the Wolverines by his teammates. Bush was also named an AP preseason first team All-American. During the opening game against Notre Dame where he had 1.5 sacks, Bush left the game during the second quarter and was evaluated for cramps. On October 20, prior to playing against Michigan State Spartans after MSU players attempted to engage in their pre-game ritual late and through Michigan players, Bush defaced the Spartan logo at midfield. During the 2018 season, Bush was the team's leading tackler with 80 stops, and he ranked second on the team in tackles for loss and sacks. Following the season, he was named Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and was named to the All-Big Ten defensive first-team by both the coaches and media. He was also named a consensus All-American. On December 19, 2018, Bush announced that he would forego his senior season to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft; also, that he would not play in Michigan's bowl game, the Peach Bowl.
College statistics
Professional career
Bush was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers 10th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. His father, Devin Bush, was also a first round NFL draft pick. The Steelers originally acquired this selection in a trade with the Denver Broncos, trading their first round selection, their 2019 second round selection, and 2020 third round pick to Denver.
2019
Bush made his NFL debut in week 1 against the New England Patriots. In the game, Bush made 11 tackles in the 33–3 loss. In week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers, Bush recorded a team high 11 tackles and recovered a fumble forced by safetyMinkah Fitzpatrick in the 24–20 loss. In week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Bush recorded 9 tackles and made his first career sack on Andy Dalton in the 27–3 win. In week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens, Bush recorded his first career interception off Lamar Jackson in the 26–23 loss. In week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Bush made a team high 7 tackles, recovered a fumble lost by Philip Rivers which he returned for a touchdown, and recorded an interception off Rivers in the 24–17 win. Bush became the first rookie to record a fumble return for a touchdown and an interception in the same game since Chicago Bears' safety Eddie Jackson accomplished this feat in 2017. He was named the AFC defensive player of the week for his performance. In week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Bush recorded 4 tackles and forced a fumble on wide receiver Tyler Boyd which was recovered by Minkah Fitzpatrick in the 16–10 win. In week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens, Bush recorded a team high 12 tackles during the 28–10 loss. During the game, Bush surpassed 100 tackles on the season.
