Washington Commanders safety and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves has navigated a daunting journey through his five-year NFL career. On Wednesday, he was rewarded for his hard work as he was named a Pro Bowl starter.
Reaves is one of two Commanders players making his first trip to the Pro Bowl, joining wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Washington’s defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and punter Tress Way also were named to the Pro Bowl.
However, Reaves will garner national headlines after the Commanders shared a video of the emotional moment head coach Ron Rivera notified Reaves of his Pro Bowl nod.
The video shows Rivera informing Way, Allen and McLaurin. But everyone’s attention turned to Reaves despite the other players' accomplishment.
Way asked Rivera if he could stay in the room to see Reaves’ reaction. McLaurin was astonished to hear Reaves was joining him on the Pro Bowl team.
As soon as Rivera told Reaves of his accomplishment, Reaves teared up. Rivera mentioned Reaves’ mother, who passed away last season.
Reaves laid his head on his shoulder of Rivera as the tears poured out. The scene was incredible for a player that took an unconventional path in pursuit of his dream.
His journey included overcoming a broken back in high school to landing a scholarship at South Alabama. Despite being named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, Reaves went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft.
He got signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he got cut before the start of the season. He signed to Washington’s practice squad shortly afterward. Reaves got promoted to the active roster later that season and made his NFL debut on Dec. 22, 2018, against the Tennessee Titans.
Reaves would have a similar experience every year of his first four seasons in the league, getting waived during the final cuts by Washington before being signed back to the practice squad.
He played in 25 games over the four years, making eight starts at safety. Then last November, he had to endure the passing of his mother. He recently told the Commanders team website playing through her death was therapeutic.
This seasonm there was a difference through training camp, and for the first time in his career, Reaves made the initial 53-man roster. He has since played in all 14 games this season for Washington. He’s excelled on special teams, so much that teammate tight end Logan Thomas took notice.
The entire journey, sacrifices, gains and losses were presumably on Reaves’ mind when Rivera told him he was going to the Pro Bowl. Reaves was left with tears of joy, as Rivera said he was proud of him.
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