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Jeff Reed (football)
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey "Jeff" Montgomery Reed (born April 9, 1979) is a National Football League
placekicker
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers
from 2002 until 2010, and is second all-time behind Gary Anderson for the most points scored by a Steeler.
He has also been a member of the San Francisco 49ers
and Seattle Seahawks
.
, Reed graduated from East Mecklenburg High School
in Charlotte, North Carolina
in 1997. While there, Reed was captain of the soccer team and kicker for the football
team. He was a letterman in both sports. His senior year the soccer team went to the state finals but lost, 2-1. During his senior year, Reed kicked a 54-yard field goal, the second longest in North Carolina history, against Providence High School
, setting a new school record. In football, he won All-Conference and All-County honors.
Reed was involved in the school newspaper, National Honor Society
, and the Spanish National Honor Society
. He graduated 9th in his class out of 365.
In the Spring of 2005 he was added to the East Mecklenburg Wall of Fame.
where he majored in journalism
and played college football
. He had never kicked in a college game until the 2000 season, but he emerged as one of the most consistent kickers (and punter) in the country. He was an honorable mention All-ACC
pick as a senior and a second-team All-ACC player as a junior. He entered the 2000 season as a walk-on, but he earned a scholarship after connecting on 28-of-36 field goal attempts and 66-of-67 extra points. His 66 consecutive PATs set a UNC record. He was one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award
, which is given annually to the nation’s top kicker. Reed was first-team Academic All-ACC.
While at UNC, Reed was teammates with running back
Willie Parker
, his future teammate with the Pittsburgh Steelers
.
After an unsuccessful tryout with the New Orleans Saints
during the 2002 preseason, Reed joined the Pittsburgh Steelers
as a free agent
during the regular season
. Originally signed as a midseason replacement to the injured Todd Peterson, Reed quickly contributed to the team, finishing the season with 100 points, which led to the team releasing Peterson in the offseason and making Reed their primary kicker.
During the Steelers 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff game against the New York Jets
, Reed kicked a 33-yard field goal in overtime after his New York counterpart Doug Brien
missed two field goals. During the 2005-06 NFL playoffs, where the Steelers eventually won Super Bowl XL
, Reed successfully kicked all three field goal attempts and converted all fourteen of his potential PATs. Reed's streak of 189 consecutive successful PAT's (210 including post-seasons), dating back to the Steelers' week 16 victory over the Chargers
in 2003
, came to an end on Monday
November 3, 2008, against the Washington Redskins.
During Super Bowl XLIII
, Reed went 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PAT's in the Steelers 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals
.
Reed is the second-highest scoring Steeler. His 733 points trails Gary Anderson's 1,343. Reed's fallout with the Steelers began on October 18, 2009 Reed was cited again for public intoxication and disorderly conduct related charges on October 18, 2009, hours after the team defeated the Cleveland Browns. The incident occurred when Matt Spaeth (Pittsburgh Steelers TE) was cited for urinating in public, and Reed refused to comply with police orders to go back inside his SUV. He later apologized to his team for his conduct.
Reed was franchise tagged during the 2010 offseason, and signed his one-year tender on April 13, 2010.
Reed was released on November 16, 2010, two days after missing a 26-yard field goal against the New England Patriots
. He was replaced by Shaun Suisham
. Reed went unclaimed through waivers and became a free agent; he was then free to sign with any team and would collect the balance of his Steelers' contract ($160,000 each week) for the year, in addition to any pay he may receive from signing with a new team.
On November 18, 2010, two days after Reed was released by the Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals
offered Reed a contract. However, he declined.
to replace their injured kicker, Joe Nedney
. Reed had a good outing in his first game, going 3 for 3, including a 44-yard field goal. Reed finished his five-game 49ers' career having hit all of his 13 extra-point attempts and 9 of 10 field goal tries.
on August 3, 2011, but was released on September 4.
Reed does charity work with “Kick For Kids,” which donates $300 for every field goal he makes. Reed is involved in Junior Achievement
, does commercials for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
, and helped a family raise money for a 5-year-old who had a brain tumor
.
Reed is known to be eccentric
. This has included instances of Reed bleaching his hair and letting it grow out, as well as wearing fuchsia
clothing to match his girlfriend's outfit for the team's annual fashion show to raise money for breast cancer
awareness. One year for training camp, Reed voluntarily carried around a pink backpack
since the team had no rookies on special teams, who would usually carry around the backpack.
While in Pittsburgh, Reed was frequently seen in section C27 of Pittsburgh Penguins
games when the Penguins played in Mellon Arena. After the Steelers' win in Super Bowl XLIII
, Reed dropped the ceremonial first puck at the Penguins-Tampa Bay Lightning
game on February 4, 2009. For the occasion, he wore a rare gold throwback
Sunday
Mario Lemieux
jersey from the mid-1980s.
Reed was cited by police on the night of February 14, 2009, for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief for destroying a paper towel holder in a bathroom at a Sheetz
convenience store
in New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
. Reed was reportedly angry that the men's restroom was out of paper towels. He pleaded guilty to the two summary offenses and was fined $543.50.
Reed was cited again for public intoxication and disorderly conduct related charges on October 18, 2009, hours after the team defeated the Cleveland Browns
. The incident occurred when then-Steelers tight end
Matt Spaeth
was cited for urinating
in public, and Reed refused to comply with police orders to go back inside his SUV. He later apologized to his team for his conduct.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
from 2002 until 2010, and is second all-time behind Gary Anderson for the most points scored by a Steeler.
He has also been a member of the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
.
Early years
Born in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Reed graduated from East Mecklenburg High School
East Mecklenburg High School
East Mecklenburg High School is a public secondary school in Charlotte, North Carolina and one of 19 high schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system. The principal of the school is Rick Parker. East Mecklenburg High School is partial magnet school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
in 1997. While there, Reed was captain of the soccer team and kicker for the football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
team. He was a letterman in both sports. His senior year the soccer team went to the state finals but lost, 2-1. During his senior year, Reed kicked a 54-yard field goal, the second longest in North Carolina history, against Providence High School
Providence High School (North Carolina)
Providence Senior High School is a Charlotte Mecklenburg School District high school located off of Pineville-Matthews Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. Providence serves southern and southeastern Mecklenburg County...
, setting a new school record. In football, he won All-Conference and All-County honors.
Reed was involved in the school newspaper, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, and the Spanish National Honor Society
Spanish National Honor Society
Spanish National Honor Society is an academic honor society focused on Spanish language excellence in secondary education and promotes a continuity of interest in Spanish studies. The group, which was established in 1953 in the United States is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of...
. He graduated 9th in his class out of 365.
In the Spring of 2005 he was added to the East Mecklenburg Wall of Fame.
College career
Reed attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
where he majored in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. He had never kicked in a college game until the 2000 season, but he emerged as one of the most consistent kickers (and punter) in the country. He was an honorable mention All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
pick as a senior and a second-team All-ACC player as a junior. He entered the 2000 season as a walk-on, but he earned a scholarship after connecting on 28-of-36 field goal attempts and 66-of-67 extra points. His 66 consecutive PATs set a UNC record. He was one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
, which is given annually to the nation’s top kicker. Reed was first-team Academic All-ACC.
While at UNC, Reed was teammates with running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Willie Parker
Willie Parker
"Fast" Willie Everette Parker Jr. is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at North Carolina...
, his future teammate with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
Pittsburgh Steelers
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
during the 2002 preseason, Reed joined the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
during the regular season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
. Originally signed as a midseason replacement to the injured Todd Peterson, Reed quickly contributed to the team, finishing the season with 100 points, which led to the team releasing Peterson in the offseason and making Reed their primary kicker.
During the Steelers 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Reed kicked a 33-yard field goal in overtime after his New York counterpart Doug Brien
Doug Brien
Douglas Robert Zachariah Brien is a former American football placekicker. He played twelve seasons for seven teams in the National Football League:...
missed two field goals. During the 2005-06 NFL playoffs, where the Steelers eventually won Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
, Reed successfully kicked all three field goal attempts and converted all fourteen of his potential PATs. Reed's streak of 189 consecutive successful PAT's (210 including post-seasons), dating back to the Steelers' week 16 victory over the Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
, came to an end on Monday
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
November 3, 2008, against the Washington Redskins.
During Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
, Reed went 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PAT's in the Steelers 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Reed is the second-highest scoring Steeler. His 733 points trails Gary Anderson's 1,343. Reed's fallout with the Steelers began on October 18, 2009 Reed was cited again for public intoxication and disorderly conduct related charges on October 18, 2009, hours after the team defeated the Cleveland Browns. The incident occurred when Matt Spaeth (Pittsburgh Steelers TE) was cited for urinating in public, and Reed refused to comply with police orders to go back inside his SUV. He later apologized to his team for his conduct.
Reed was franchise tagged during the 2010 offseason, and signed his one-year tender on April 13, 2010.
Reed was released on November 16, 2010, two days after missing a 26-yard field goal against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He was replaced by Shaun Suisham
Shaun Suisham
Shaun Christopher Suisham is a Canadian placekicker of American football for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League . He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
. Reed went unclaimed through waivers and became a free agent; he was then free to sign with any team and would collect the balance of his Steelers' contract ($160,000 each week) for the year, in addition to any pay he may receive from signing with a new team.
On November 18, 2010, two days after Reed was released by the Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
offered Reed a contract. However, he declined.
San Francisco 49ers
On December 2, 2010, Reed signed with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
to replace their injured kicker, Joe Nedney
Joe Nedney
Joseph Thomas Nedney is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Nedney played college football at San Jose State and signed as an undrafted player with the Miami Dolphins in 1996...
. Reed had a good outing in his first game, going 3 for 3, including a 44-yard field goal. Reed finished his five-game 49ers' career having hit all of his 13 extra-point attempts and 9 of 10 field goal tries.
Seattle Seahawks
Reed signed with the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
on August 3, 2011, but was released on September 4.
Personal
Reed's father, Morris, played basketball for Wichita State and his mother, Pam, was a cheerleader for Wichita State. His sister, Kristen, played soccer at UNC Charlotte and one year professionally for the Carolina Speed.Reed does charity work with “Kick For Kids,” which donates $300 for every field goal he makes. Reed is involved in Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement or JA or JA Worldwide is a non-profit youth organization that was founded in 1919 by Horace A. Moses, Theodore Vail, and senator Winthrop M. Crane. JA focuses on educating kids in K-12 about the free enterprise system...
, does commercials for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $9 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 54,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 4,200 licensed beds, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.5 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and...
, and helped a family raise money for a 5-year-old who had a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
.
Reed is known to be eccentric
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
. This has included instances of Reed bleaching his hair and letting it grow out, as well as wearing fuchsia
Fuchsia
Fuchsia is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. The first, Fuchsia triphylla, was discovered on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola in 1703 by the French Minim monk and botanist, Charles Plumier...
clothing to match his girlfriend's outfit for the team's annual fashion show to raise money for breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
awareness. One year for training camp, Reed voluntarily carried around a pink backpack
Backpack
A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions...
since the team had no rookies on special teams, who would usually carry around the backpack.
While in Pittsburgh, Reed was frequently seen in section C27 of Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
games when the Penguins played in Mellon Arena. After the Steelers' win in Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
, Reed dropped the ceremonial first puck at the Penguins-Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
game on February 4, 2009. For the occasion, he wore a rare gold throwback
Throwback uniform
Throwback uniforms and jerseys are one-time or limited-time variations on a sports team's uniforms styled to resemble uniforms from that team's past. They have proven popular in all major pro and college sports in the USA, not only with fans, but with the teams' marketing and merchandising...
Sunday
Third jersey
A third jersey or alternate jersey is a sports team's alternate and/or throwback design for the previously established other two jerseys, the home and away outfits. Alternate jerseys are used in all four of the North American major professional sports leagues as well as college sports, semipro...
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
jersey from the mid-1980s.
Reed was cited by police on the night of February 14, 2009, for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief for destroying a paper towel holder in a bathroom at a Sheetz
Sheetz
Sheetz, Inc. is a chain of gas stations/convenience stores owned by the Sheetz family. Stores are located in Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia....
convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
in New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
New Alexandria is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 595 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Alexandria is located at ....
. Reed was reportedly angry that the men's restroom was out of paper towels. He pleaded guilty to the two summary offenses and was fined $543.50.
Reed was cited again for public intoxication and disorderly conduct related charges on October 18, 2009, hours after the team defeated the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The incident occurred when then-Steelers tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Matt Spaeth
Matt Spaeth
Matt Spaeth is an American football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
was cited for urinating
Urination
Urination, also known as micturition, voiding, peeing, weeing, pissing, and more rarely, emiction, is the ejection of urine from the urinary bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body. In healthy humans the process of urination is under voluntary control...
in public, and Reed refused to comply with police orders to go back inside his SUV. He later apologized to his team for his conduct.