Don Reese
| No. 76, 60 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | September 4, 1951 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | September 18, 2003 (aged 52) Prichard, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 254 lb (115 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Vigor (Prichard, Alabama) | ||||||||
| College | Jackson State | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1974: 1st round, 26th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Coaching profile at Pro Football ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |||||||||
Donald Francis Reese (September 4, 1951 – September 18, 2003) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL). He played professionally for the Miami Dolphins, the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers and the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL.
Early life and education
[edit | edit source]Reese was born in Mobile, Alabama and graduated from Vigor High School in Prichard, Alabama.[1] He played college football at Jackson State University.
Career
[edit | edit source]Reese was a 1st round selection (26th overall pick) of the 1974 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.[2] He played for the Dolphins from 1974 to 1976, but missed the 1977 NFL season after being arrested on May 4, 1977, along with teammate Randy Crowder, on charges of selling one pound (0.45 kg) of cocaine to two undercover agents in Miami.[3] After pleading no contest on August 10, Reese and Crowder were sentenced to one year incarceration at the Dade County Stockade, followed by four years probation,[4] a remarkably light sentence given the charges.[5]
After his release, Reese went on to play for the New Orleans Saints (1978–1980), and the San Diego Chargers (1981). In 1985 Reese played for the Birmingham Stallions in the United States Football League.[6]
Reese was suspended for the final four games of the 1980 season by interim coach Dick Stanfel for instigating a fight during a practice with teammate Derland Moore. Stanfel was conducting his first practice session as Saints coach after taking over for Dick Nolan, who was fired after the Saints fell to 0-12 in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. New Orleans finished 1-15, becoming the first NFL team to lose 15 games in a season.
In June 1982, Reese authored a lengthy article for Sports Illustrated in which he detailed his struggles with drugs. This was one of the first looks into the seedy world of money and drug use in the NFL. .[7]
Reese was named the Jackson State All-Century Team and was inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame
Death
[edit | edit source]On September 18, 2003, Reese died in Prichard, Alabama, at age 52 from liver cancer.[8][9]
References
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ "Dolphin Players Crowder, Reese, Arrested on Cocaine Sale Charge", by Edna Buchanan, Miami Herald, May 5, 1977, p.1-A
- ^ "Crowder, Reese Given Year in Jail for Drugs", Miami Herald, August 11, 1977, p.1A
- ^ "Other drug offenders didn't fare as well as Reece and Crowder", Miami News, August 11, 1977, p.5A
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Donald Reese
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
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- Don Reese at Find a GraveLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- 1951 births
- 2003 deaths
- Players of American football from Mobile, Alabama
- American football defensive ends
- Jackson State Tigers football players
- Miami Dolphins players
- New Orleans Saints players
- San Diego Chargers players
- Deaths from liver cancer in the United States
- Deaths from cancer in Alabama
- Vigor High School alumni