Andre Darnell Reed (born January 29, 1964) is an American former professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
player who was a
wide receiver
A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...
for 16 seasons in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL), primarily with the
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...
. He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Kutztown Golden Bears and was selected by the Bills in the fourth round of the
1985 NFL draft with the 86th overall selection. Following 15 seasons with the Bills, with whom he earned seven
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players.
The format has changed ...
selections, Reed spent his final season as a member of the
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
in 2000.
Reed currently ranks 18th in
all-time NFL touchdown receptions with 87 and tenth in
all-time NFL post-season receptions with 85. Reed helped lead the Bills to four consecutive, although winless,
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the annual History of the NFL championship, league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966 NFL season, 1966 (with the excep ...
s,
Super Bowl XXV to
Super Bowl XXVIII.
At the time of his 2001 retirement, Reed was second in all-time NFL career receptions. He was inducted into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional football (gridiron), professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, 1963, the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of profes ...
in 2014.
Early life
Reed was born in
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Allenschteddel'', ''Allenschtadt'', or ''Ellsdaun'') is a city in eastern Pennsylvania, United States. The county seat of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County, it is the List o ...
, on January 29, 1964. He began his football career at Allentown's
Dieruff High School, where he played
quarterback
The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...
and competed in the
Eastern 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 with
Emmaus High School and
Whitehall High School.
College career
Reed then attended
Kutztown University, where he moved to the
wide receiver
A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...
position 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.
Professional career
Buffalo Bills
In the
1985 NFL draft, Reed was selected by the
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...
in 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. Reed played for the Bills for 15 consecutive seasons, from
1985 through
1999
1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons.
Events January
* January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers.
* January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
, during which he helped lead the Bills to four consecutive
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the annual History of the NFL championship, league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966 NFL season, 1966 (with the excep ...
s. He was released in the 2000 offseason along with fellow longtime Bills' players
Thurman Thomas and
Bruce Smith after the team found itself in severe
salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap (or wage cap) is an agreement or rule that places a limit on the amount of money that a team can spend on players' salaries. It exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both. Seve ...
trouble; the roster dump began a period of downfall for the Buffalo Bills, who did not again reach the playoffs until the
2017 season.
"The Comeback"
In 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 the
Houston 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 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' 52–17
Super Bowl XXVII loss, on January 31, 1993, to the
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
.
Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins
In 2000, Reed signed a two-year contract with the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...
in June but was buried on the depth chart behind
Rod Smith,
Ed McCaffrey,
Robert Brooks, and
Travis McGriff. Reed eventually asked for his release from the Broncos after then Broncos Head Coach
Mike Shanahan informed Reed that he would be inactive for their
2000 season opener and wanted to make a more immediate contribution. He eventually joined the
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
and retired after the
2000 season.
NFL records
Reed ranks 15th in all-time NFL history in
touchdown receptions with 87 and ninth in NFL history in
all-time post-season receptions with 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 consecutive
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the annual History of the NFL championship, league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966 NFL season, 1966 (with the excep ...
s (1991–1994) and was selected to the
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players.
The format has changed ...
in 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
In his four Super Bowls, Reed recorded 27 receptions, the third-most total career Super Bowl receptions in NFL history behind
Jerry Rice's 33 and
Travis Kelce's 35, and 323 total Super Bowl receiving yards, sixth-most in Super Bowl history.
NFL career statistics
Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame
In 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 inside
Highmark Stadium. Reed's was inducted in 2009 along with former teammate
Bruce Smith and team owner
Ralph 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
Reed 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, including
Art Monk,
Michael Irvin, and
Cris 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 candidates
Jerry Rice and
Tim Brown both eligible for the first time.
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.
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
Since his NFL retirement in 2000, Reed has provided football commentary on the
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American multinational pay television network owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company (which owns a controlling 80% stake) and Hearst Communications (which owns the remaining 20%).
ESPN2 was initially ...
show, ''
First Take'', and appears periodically as a football analyst on ''
NFL on Fox''. He has also appeared on the
Spike TV sports series ''
Pros vs. Joes'' in the show's second season.
He is also known for ''
Hawaii Five-0'' where he appeared in "Ka'aelike" (Season 7, Episode 12). He played a federal prosecutor on ''
MacGyver
Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the MacGyver (1985 TV series), 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in Mac ...
''. He also appeared on ''
Magnum PI'' Season 2 Episode 17 as himself and as a car salesman who abuses his uncanny resemblance to Andre Reed.
Philanthropy
The Andre Reed Foundation was established in 2010 to help underprivileged children reach their full potential and become responsible contributors to their communities. Reed is currently a
Boys & 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
On October 18, 2014,
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Reed's alma mater, renamed University Field to
Andre Reed Stadium in his honor in a ceremony.
Popular culture
Reed is mentioned in the 1996 film ''
Jerry Maguire'' as one of several NFL wide receivers with lucrative contracts, as Rod Tidwell, a fictional wide receiver for the
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
, played by
Cuba Gooding, Jr., tells his agent, played by
Tom Cruise, that his contract warrants high pay.
Personal life
In 2023, Reed married Theresa Villano in
San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
, California. Reed has hosted an annual celebrity golf event for over 10 years. Reed's nephew, Jackson Reed, plays
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for
Susquehanna University as a
wide receiver
A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...
. 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 the
Philadelphia Eagles but still roots for the
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...
because of his uncle's history with the team.
In 2025, Reed was named commissioner of the
Entertainment Football Association, an
arena football league with teams along the Eastern Seaboard.
References
External links
Andre Reedat the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional football (gridiron), professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, 1963, the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of profes ...
Andre ReedBuffalo Sports Hall of Fame profile
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reed, Andre
1964 births
Living people
20th-century American sportsmen
20th-century African-American sportsmen
21st-century American sportsmen
21st-century African-American sportsmen
American Conference Pro Bowl players
American football wide receivers
Buffalo Bills players
Denver Broncos players
Kutztown Golden Bears football players
Louis E. Dieruff High School alumni
Players of American football from Allentown, Pennsylvania
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
Washington Redskins players