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Andre Reed
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Andre Reed | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 29, 1964 (age 43) |
| Place of birth |  Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver |
| College | Kutztown |
| NFL Draft | 1985 / Round 4/ Pick 86 |
| Career Highlights | |
| Pro Bowls | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| Honors | Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1985-1999 2000 |
Buffalo Bills Washington Redskins |
Andre Darnell Reed (born January 29, 1964 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver in the NFL for 16 seasons, 15 with the Buffalo Bills (1985-1999) and one with the Washington Redskins (2000). He is widely considered one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game.
During his NFL career, Reed was known as a highly durable, fearless over-the-middle receiver who was never afraid to take punishing blows in exchange for receptions. He often shook off tackles for significant after-catch running yards.
Reed ranks highly in nearly every all-time NFL receiving category and is considered a likely candidate for ultimate induction into the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Contents |
Reed was born in Allentown and began his football career at Allentown's Dieruff High School, where he played quarterback and competed in the East Penn Conference (now known as the Lehigh Valley Conference), which is known for producing top collegiate and NFL football talent. In his senior year (1981-1982), Reed helped lead Dieruff to an EPC tri-championship, tying for the championship with Emmaus High School and Whitehall High School.
Reed then attended Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he moved to the wide receiver position and quickly drew the attention of the NFL for his speed and durability at the receiver position. In the 1985 NFL Draft, Reed was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round with the 86th overall selection.
Reed ranks near the top in nearly all NFL career statistical receiving categories. He is fifth in NFL history in total career receptions with 951 (behind only Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, and Marvin Harrison), eighth in NFL history in total career receiving yards with 13,198. Reed is also tenth in NFL history in total career touchdown receptions with 87.
He also rushed for 500 yards and a touchdown on 75 carries. With the Bills, Reed played in four consecutive Super Bowls (1991-1994) and was selected to the Pro Bowl in seven consecutive seasons (1988-1994).
Reed set season career highs with 90 receptions in 1994, 10 touchdowns in 1991, and 1,312 receiving yards in 1989.
A tribute to his incredible physical durability, Reed played in 234 NFL games between 1985 and 2000, the 59th most games played by any player in NFL history, including players in less physically demanding positions, such as kickers and punters.
In his four Super Bowls, Reed recorded 27 receptions, the second most total career Super Bowl receptions in NFL history (behind Rice's 33). His 323 total Super Bowl receiving yards are the third most in Super Bowl history (behind only Rice's 604 yards and Lynn Swann's 364).
In addition to the important role he played in taking the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls, Reed is remembered particularly for his contributions to the Bills' extraordinary January 3, 1993 playoff victory over the Houston Oilers, a game that has come to be known simply as "The Comeback". In the game, which Houston led decisively 35-3 during the third quarter, Reed caught three touchdowns in the second half to lead the Bills to the largest comeback in NFL history. Contributing substantially to "The Comeback," Reed finished the game with 8 receptions for 136 yards and 3 touchdowns. The game has been enshrined in NFL history as one of the greatest games ever played. It also is recognized as one the largest comebacks by any team in the history of all of American professional sports.
Following the Bills' victory against the Oilers, Reed went on to catch 8 passes for 152 yards in the Bills' 52-17 Super Bowl XXVII loss, on January 31, 1993, to the Dallas Cowboys.
Reed became eligible for induction into the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame, the highest honor afforded a former NFL player, in 2006, but was not selected for induction in either of his first two years of eligibility (2006 and 2007), due in part to the logjam of accomplished wide receiver candidates. In February 2007, Reed was passed over for selection in favor of former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin, despite the fact that Reed's overall receiving statistics surpass Irvin's in nearly ever category, though Irvin's career ended prematurely with a spinal injury.
Most analysts believe Reed's extraordinary receiving statistics, along with the role he played in taking the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls, will ultimately win him Hall of Fame selection. Most of Reed's NFL receptions were thrown by former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, who was inducted into the Hall in 2002.
In 2006, Reed was voted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame, joining less than a dozen players in Bills history to have his name enshrined in the field-encircling cement of Buffalo's Rich Stadium.
Since his NFL retirement in 2000, Reed provides regular football commentary on the ESPN2 show, Cold Pizza, and appears periodically as a football analyst on The NFL on FOX. He has also appeared on the Spike TV sports series Pros vs. Joes in the show's second season.