Andre Darnell Reed(born January 29, 1964) is an American former professionalfootballwide receiverwho played in theNational Football League(NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with theBuffalo Bills.He playedcollege footballfor theKutztown Golden Bearsand was selected by the Bills in the fourth round of the1985 NFL draftwith the 86th overall selection. Following 15 seasons with the Bills, where he earnedPro Bowlhonors seven times, Reed spent his final season as a member of theWashington Redskinsin 2000.
 Reed in March 2009 | |||||||||
| No. 83, 84 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | January 29, 1964 Allentown, Pennsylvania,U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Dieruff (Allentown, Pennsylvania) | ||||||||
| College: | Kutztown(1982–1984) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1985/ round: 4 / pick: 86 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Reed currently ranks 18th inall-time NFL touchdown receptionswith 87 and tenth inall-time NFL post-season receptionswith 85. Reed helped lead the Bills to four consecutiveSuper Bowls,Super Bowl XXVtoSuper Bowl XXVIII,losing all of them.
At the time of his 2001 retirement, Reed was second in all-time NFL career receptions.[1]He was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Famein 2014.
Early life
editReed was born inAllentown, Pennsylvaniaon January 29, 1964. He began his football career at Allentown'sDieruff High School,where he playedquarterbackand competed in theEastern Pennsylvania Conference,which is known for producing top collegiate and NFL football talent. In his senior year in 1981, Reed helped lead Dieruff to an EPC tri-championship, tying for the championship withEmmaus High SchoolandWhitehall High School.
College career
editReed then attendedKutztown University,where he moved to thewide receiverposition and quickly drew the attention of the NFL for his speed and durability at the receiver position. He set nine school records and finished his college career with 142 receptions for 2,020 yards and 14 touchdowns.[2]
Professional career
editBuffalo Bills
editIn the1985 NFL draft,Reed was selected by theBuffalo Billsin the fourth round with the 86th overall selection, making him just the second player ever from Kutztown to be selected in an NFL Draft; the first was Don Shaver in 1981.[3][4]Reed played for the Bills for 15 consecutive seasons, from1985through1999,during which he helped lead the Bills to four consecutiveSuper Bowls.He was released in the 2000 offseason along with fellow longtime Bills' playersThurman ThomasandBruce Smithafter the team found itself in severesalary captrouble; the roster dump began a period of downfall for the Buffalo Bills, who did not again reach the playoffs until the2017 season.
"The Comeback"
editIn addition to the important role he played in taking the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls, Reed is also remembered for his contributions to the Bills' January 3, 1993, playoff victory over theHouston Oilers,a game that has come to be known simply as"The Comeback."In the game, which Houston led 35–3 during the third quarter, Reed caught three touchdowns in the second half, leading Buffalo's rally from a 32-point deficit[5]in what became the largest comeback in NFL history. Reed finished the game with eight receptions for 136 yards and three touchdowns. The game has been enshrined in NFL history as one of the greatest games ever played. It also is recognized as one of the largest comebacks by any team in the history of all of the American professional sports.
Following the Bills' victory over Houston, Reed went on to catch eight passes for 152 yards in the Bills' 52–17Super Bowl XXVIIloss, on January 31, 1993, to theDallas Cowboys.
Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins
editIn 2000, Reed signed a two-year contract with theDenver Broncosin June but was buried on the depth chart behindRod Smith,Ed McCaffrey,Robert Brooks,andTravis McGriff.[6]Reed eventually asked for his release from the Broncos after then Broncos Head CoachMike Shanahaninformed Reed that he would be inactive for their2000 season openerand wanted to make a more immediate contribution.[7]He eventually joined theWashington Redskinsand retired after the2000 season.
NFL records
editReed ranks 15th in all-time NFL history intouchdown receptionswith 87 and ninth in NFL history inall-time post-season receptionswith 85 as of 2022.
He exceeded 1,000 receiving yards four times in a 16-year career and rushed for 500 yards and a touchdown on 75 carries. With the Bills, Reed played in four consecutiveSuper Bowls(1991–1994) and was selected to thePro Bowlin seven consecutive seasons (1988–1994). He set season career highs with 90 receptions in 1994, ten touchdowns in 1991, and 1,312 receiving yards in 1989.
A tribute to his physical durability, Reed played in 234 NFL games between 1985 and 2000,the 99th-most games played by any player in NFL history,including players in less physically demanding positions, including kickers and punters.
Super Bowl records
editIn his four Super Bowls, Reed recorded 27 receptions, the second-most total career Super Bowl receptions in NFL history behindJerry Rice's 33. His 323 total Super Bowl receiving yards are the third-most in Super Bowl history behind Rice's 604 yards andLynn Swann's 364 yards.
NFL career statistics
edit| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 1985 | BUF | 16 | 15 | 48 | 637 | 13.3 | 32 | 4 | — | 3 | -1 | -0.3 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | BUF | 15 | 15 | 53 | 739 | 13.9 | 55 | 7 | — | 3 | -8 | -2.7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | BUF | 12 | 12 | 57 | 752 | 13.2 | 40 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | BUF | 15 | 14 | 71 | 968 | 13.6 | 65 | 6 | — | 6 | 64 | 10.7 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 88 | 1,312 | 13.7 | 78 | 9 | — | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 71 | 945 | 13.3 | 56 | 8 | — | 3 | 23 | 7.7 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 81 | 1,113 | 13.7 | 55 | 10 | 62 | 12 | 136 | 11.3 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 65 | 913 | 14.0 | 51 | 3 | 41 | 8 | 65 | 8.1 | 24 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 1993 | BUF | 15 | 15 | 52 | 854 | 16.4 | 65 | 6 | 32 | 9 | 21 | 2.3 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1994 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 90 | 1,303 | 14.5 | 83 | 8 | 64 | 10 | 87 | 8.7 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1995 | BUF | 6 | 6 | 24 | 312 | 13.0 | 41 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 48 | 6.9 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1996 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 66 | 1,036 | 15.7 | 78 | 6 | 42 | 8 | 22 | 2.8 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | BUF | 15 | 15 | 60 | 880 | 14.7 | 77 | 5 | 39 | 3 | 11 | 3.7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | BUF | 15 | 13 | 63 | 795 | 12.6 | 67 | 5 | 49 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 52 | 536 | 10.3 | 30 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | WAS | 13 | 0 | 10 | 103 | 10.3 | 21 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 234 | 217 | 951 | 13,198 | 13.9 | 83 | 87 | 378 | 75 | 500 | 6.7 | 46 | 1 | 12 | 9 | |
Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame
editIn 2006, Reed was voted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame, joining a number of other players from Bills history whose names are enshrined in cement insideHighmark Stadium.Reed's was inducted in 2009 along with former teammateBruce Smithand team ownerRalph Wilson.Through the night, Reed was referred to multiple times as "future Hall of Famer" with various speeches voicing their ringing endorsement for Reed as a candidate.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
editReed became eligible for induction into the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame, the highest honor afforded a former NFL player, in 2006. However, he was not selected for induction in any of his first seven years of eligibility due partly to a logjam of accomplished wide receiver candidates, includingArt Monk,Michael Irvin,andCris Carter.Although Irvin, Monk and Carter are now enshrined as of 2007, 2008 and 2013 respectively, the logjam became worse for Reed when he was again overlooked in 2009 and 2010, which saw wide receiver candidatesJerry RiceandTim Brownboth eligible for the first time.[8]Rice has long been considered one of the greatest players in league history and was almost assured of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer, making 2010 a long shot for Reed. As expected, Rice was inducted, which cleared some of the logjam going forward for Reed.[8]Reed remained a Hall of Fame candidate in 2011, 2012, and 2013 but was passed over each of those years.
On February 1, 2014, Reed was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he was inducted on August 2, 2014.
Television career
editSince his NFL retirement in 2000, Reed has provided football commentary on theESPN2show,First Take,and appears periodically as a football analyst onNFL on Fox.He has also appeared on theSpike TVsports seriesPros vs. Joesin the show's second season.
He is also known forHawaii Five-0where he appeared in "Ka'aelike" (Season 7, Episode 12). He played a federal prosecutor onMacGyver.He also appeared onMagnum PISeason 2 Episode 17 as himself and as a car salesman who abuses his uncanny resemblance to Andre Reed.
Philanthropy
editThe Andre Reed Foundation was established in 2010 to help underprivileged children reach their full potential and become responsible contributors to their communities.[citation needed]Reed is currently aBoys & Girls Clubs of America(BGCA) Ambassador after being inducted to their Hall of Fame in 2015. In addition, he leads up a literacy program for underprivileged youth in the BGCA, called Read with Reed 83 Challenge.
Legacy
editOn October 18, 2014,Kutztown University,Reed's alma mater, renamed University Field toAndre Reed Stadiumin his honor in a ceremony.[9]
Popular culture
editReed is mentioned in the 1996 filmJerry Maguireas one of several NFL wide receivers with lucrative contracts, as Rod Tidwell,[10]a fictional wide receiver for theArizona Cardinals,played byCuba Gooding, Jr.,tells his agent, played byTom Cruise,that his contract warrants high pay.
Personal life
editIn 2023, Reed married Theresa Villano inSan Diego,California. Reed has hosted an annual celebrity golf event for over 10 years. Reed's nephew, Jackson Reed, playscollege footballforSusquehanna Universityas awide receiver.Reed regularly keeps in touch with Jackson, who also wears the number 83. Jackson attended his uncle's celebrity golf event in the summer of 2024 alongside friends and teammates from the Susquehanna Riverhawks Football team. Jackson, born and raised in Pennsylvania like his Uncle, is a fan of thePhiladelphia Eaglesbut still roots for theBuffalo Billsbecause of his uncle's history with the team.
References
edit- ^"NFL Receptions Career Leaders".Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^"Andre Reed - President's Medal Recipients".
- ^"1985 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedOctober 10,2023.
- ^"NFL Draft - Players from Kutztown".FootballDB.com.RetrievedJuly 23,2023.
- ^"Bills and Eagles Turn Mountains Into Molehill; Buffalo Erases 32-Point Deficit".New York Times.January 4, 1993.RetrievedJuly 12,2016.
- ^"PRO FOOTBALL; Former Rivals Join Broncos".The New York Times.July 21, 2000.
- ^"Reed Bucking The Broncos".CBS News.September 1, 2000.
- ^ab"Rice, Smith land spots in Hall of Fame".NBC Sports. Associated Press. February 6, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon February 8, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 6,2010.
- ^Staff (September 18, 2014)."Kutztown University to name its football stadium in Andre Reed's honor".The Morning Call.Allentown, Pennsylvania.RetrievedSeptember 23,2014.
- ^"Jerry Maguire".IMDb.December 13, 1996.
External links
edit
- Andre Reedat thePro Football Hall of Fame
- Andre ReedBuffalo Sports Hall of Fame profile
- Career statistics fromNFL.com·ESPN·Yahoo Sports·Sports Illustrated·Pro Football Reference