Former NFL Player and HBCU Influencer dies at 73

Virginia lost one of its football giants this week. Tommy Reamon—former NFL running back, high school coaching icon, and passionate HBCU advocate—has passed away at the age of 73.

To many, Reamon was more than a coach. He was a visionary.

Born in the small town of Virgilina, Reamon rose from segregated George Washington Carver High School to the gridiron at the University of Missouri. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974, his professional career took him through the NFL and World Football League. But his most meaningful work began when he returned to Virginia, trading in stadiums for classrooms and practice fields.

That’s where legends were born.

Reamon’s most famous protégé? Michael Vick. Before electrifying the NFL or becoming a household name, Vick was a raw talent at Warwick High School. It was Reamon who nurtured that gift—and more importantly, shaped the man behind the arm.

“He’s going to be a great one,” Reamon once said about Vick’s new chapter as Norfolk State’s head football coach. “He’s been around good teaching.” Reamon often compared Vick’s leadership potential to that of Deion Sanders, adding, “That boy Michael will do exactly what Deion Sanders is doing.”

His influence stretched beyond the scoreboard. Reamon consistently steered athletes toward HBCU programs like Norfolk State, Hampton, and Virginia State, reminding them of their power and potential in institutions built for them. His belief in the role HBCUs play in Black athletic and academic excellence never wavered.

With Vick now leading Virginia’s largest HBCU football program, Reamon’s blueprint is alive and thriving. His mentorship shaped not just players—but leaders who now carry his vision forward.

In a world that often forgets the roots of greatness, Reamon never did. And now, it’s on the rest of us to remember his.