Jordan Reed: From Star Tight End To Early Retirement Due To Injuries
Discover the powerful journey of Jordan Reed, a talented NFL tight end whose promising career with Washington was shaped by standout performances and repeated injuries, leading to his early retirement.
Jul 24, 202513.6K Shares181.7K Views
Jordan Reedmade fans sit up and take notice with his skill at the tight end position. Born on July 3, 1990, in New Britain, Connecticut, he chose to play college football at the University of Florida. After a strong college career, he was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by Washington. Known for his speed, hands, and ability to make difficult catches, Reed quickly emerged as one of the league’s most promising tight ends. Despite his impressive performance, repeated injuries cut his career short, leading to his early retirement by age 30.
Early Life
Jordan Reed was born on July 3, 1990, in New Britain, Connecticut, and later moved to New London where he attended New London High School. In high school, he played quarterback for three seasons. As a junior, he completed 122 of 222 passes for 1,706 yards and 38 touchdowns, with just two interceptions, and rushed for 370 yards and 8 touchdowns, guiding his team to an undefeated regular season in 2007.
He was a finalist for the 2008 Joe Montana High School Quarterback of the Year award and earned a scholarship to the University of Florida, choosing the Gators over offers from other schools such as Boston College, Connecticut, Duke, Iowa, Oregon, and Tennessee.
College Career
Jordan Reed accepted a scholarship to the University of Florida and played for the Gators from 2009 to 2012. He was redshirted in 2009 as a true freshman and originally recruited as a quarterback. After that season he switched to tight end and stuck with it through the rest of his college career.
Over his college years, Reed caught 78 passes for 938 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also rushed for five touchdowns and even threw three more.
Reed became the top receiver for the Gators in 2012, leading the team with 45 catches for 559 yards and three touchdowns. That earned him First Team All‑SEC honors from the Associated Press and Second Team from SEC coaches. By the end of his junior season, Reed decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and entered the 2013 NFL Draft.
Professional Career
Jordan Reed was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round (85th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. He began with a strong rookie season, catching 45 passes for 499 yards and three touchdowns in nine games, and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He set a team record for rookie tight ends with 134 receiving yards in a single game against Chicago.
In 2015, Reed had his best year, catching 87 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping the Redskins win the NFC East and earning a spot on the NFL Top 100 list. In 2016, he signed a five-year extension, became the fastest tight end in NFL history to reach 200 receptions, and earned his only Pro Bowl selection.
Reed's career was marked by injuries, especially concussions and hamstring issues. He reached his seventh documented concussion in 2019 and missed the entire season, leading to his release in early 2020. Over seven years with Washington, he caught 329 passes for 3,371 yards and 24 touchdowns, ranking third all-time in receptions, yards, and scores among the team's tight ends.
In 2020, Reed signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, catching seven passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a sprained MCL in Week 3. He later announced his retirement in April 2021, citing ongoing symptoms from repeated head injuries.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles