Pro Bowl safety and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves of the Washington Commanders. Nov 14, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (39) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
NFLBy Arthur Weinstein on

You may have not heard of Jeremy Reaves before now. After you see his emotional reaction to one of the biggest moments of his life, you probably won’t be able to forget him.

The 26-year-old Reaves, a safety for the Washington Commanders, was named to the NFC roster for the Pro Bowl Games as the special teams starter Wednesday night.

Washington head coach Ron Rivera broke the news to Reaves, and video of the emotional moment quickly went viral.

“Listen, congratulations, You’re the Pro Bowl special teams guy,” Rivera said, shaking Reaves’ hand. “You’re the starter.”

As Reaves wiped away tears, Rivera slapped him on the shoulder and said, “You earned it, young man. Everything you’ve done. And I know your Mom would be proud.”

Reaves, who played at South Alabama, truly is a heartwarming story. The 5-11, 200-pound player was cut four times before landing on a roster. His mother, who he called his biggest fan, died in 2021.

Now, he’s earned Pro Bowl honors. The NFL world loved the video, and celebrated with Reaves.

“Momma you’ve been working!” Reaves tweeted. “Thank you to the fans, my teammates, family, and the city of Pensacola! Delayed not denied!!!”

“Jeremy Reaves reaction hit a bit man. So happy for him,” tweeted Yousef Kahn.

“The #youngman has been through a lot, congratulations,” tweeted one fan.

“Super proud of you dude. We see you out there putting in work on and off the field,” tweeted Danny Ocean.

https://twitter.com/_yousefkhan/status/1605747569425928192

[Washington Commanders]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.

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