This week on Memory Lane I speak with former Steelers' kicker Jeff Reed. Known for being consistent on the field and a good time off of it, Jeff had a ton of great stories to share as we reflected on his career in the NFL. From game winning kicks in the playoffs to his infamous incident in an area gas station, we covered it all. You can listen to the podcast here:
If podcasts aren't your thing, no need to worry. Here is a transcription of the interview. I hope you all enjoy!
Noah: You came from a pretty athletic family. Your dad played college basketball at Wichita State, your mom was a cheerleader there and your sister played professional soccer. Did you play football growing up or were you just a kid who played football and soccer?
Reed: Well, I was born in Kansas City, Missouri, I lived in Pittsburg, Kansas, and Moore Oklahoma, which is not far from where the University of Oklahoma University is where the Sooners play. We are definitely a family of sports. That's how my parents got married at Wichita State at 21 years old. They're pushing 50 years of marriage. So, you know, and so yeah, the athletic part of the family is there. But you know, never, in any case, did I think I'd be a field goal kicker, because that wasn't in the family. I started soccer when I was five, my true love was soccer. I ended up playing 15 years. My family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where I reside now, when I was 10.
I was asked from the fifth grade on to kick field goals and extra points and kickoffs. And I said, ‘Hell, no!’ I've had friends who played football, one was a quarterback, one was a star linebacker, and these dudes were nuts. I mean, they love the game. I loved watching them play, but, you know, they were nuts back then as kids. You laugh if you get knocked out or something, you don't realize down the road when you get older, it can really affect your health. So I wasn't going to be out there on offensive or defense. But still, you're fair game on kickoff if you don't hit a touchback in high school. That returner can return it obviously and then you are fair game to get lit up.
I'm a big dude, I wasn't as big then but I had no desire to get hit. So you know, after my 11th grade year in high school my father came up to me and said, ‘You've done everything we've asked you to do as parents. You do great on the soccer field, you do great in school. I know you're going to college, I know you know what you want to major in already which is awesome because you're your mom and I didn't have a clue. I'm only saying this because if you want to try football this is pretty much your last shot.’ So going into my senior year he was out there helping me learn and practice twice to three to three times a week in the summer. After that 11th grade year my mom was the one you know trying to find the footballs and the bushes and the trees.
I also went to a camp before my senior year. And I worked at that camp, actually, until my junior year in college, believe it or not. Most of the guys are younger, but I started so late, I needed more instruction. You can't ever get enough coaching on fundamentals. I didn't comprehend everything, but I wanted to take away a handful of things. And I did.
So I played and when my senior year in high school went nine for 11, which was top in the state because you didn't attempt too many field goals back in 1997. I made a 54 yarder. 90% of my kickoffs were through the endzone, you know, so I kind of opened some eyes. But then again, I still had so much to learn. So I didn't get I didn't get scholarship offers but I had my sights set on going to Chapel Hill, because of journalism and mastering mass communication. And because ultimately, whether football worked out or not as much as I wanted to play a sport in college, I knew that a degree is what I needed.
So I ended up walking on for Mack Brown, who was the coach then before he left for Texas. But you know, that's where that's where it all started. I tried any and every sport. Shoot, even after football and my career was over, I wouldn't play kickball very competitively here at Lake Norman, outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. I’m still a bit upset my career ended when it did because I never got another shot. I thought I had three to five more years in me. But ultimately, I played the game, I won two Super Bowl championships and I've met a lot of great friends and great people through the sport of football.
Noah: I want to talk to you about this journalism stuff. As someone who also had an interest in journalism when he was in high school, and what kind of journalism did you want to get into? Were you more in the print side of it? Or were you trying to call games on TV on the radio? What was your dream that football didn't work out when you're younger?
Reed: Well, you know, I actually majored in newspaper writing, but it wasn't what I wanted to do. I wanted to do feature writing for magazines, because I like to go behind the scenes on somebody's life, where they came from, to see how far they've come to make it. That goes for every sport that goes for every CEO, VP, President at a company. That's what I wanted to do but that wasn't an option. So newspaper writing taught me so much. I mean, it was so tough. It seems like ‘Who the hell can't write in a column, in you know, 116 words, or whatever it may be?’ Well, there was so much discipline in that. I'm OCD, so I mean it wore me out. I mean, that that whole semester was a mess.
If you misspelled someone's name, or company or position or don't capitalize something, or if you're ten words over your word count, it's an automatic 50 point deduction. So that's an automatic F and so I didn't know that going into it. I just knew I was a great writer. I was great in math. I was great in Spanish, and I was a great writer. Those are my three things through my school, I had straight A's. I was number 10 of my class of 362 graduates. I know people may say that, because they look at my hair and my personality, and they think I'm lying but, you know, ultimately, those are facts. I was the guy that brought home the perfect attendance award.
So I enjoyed that class and major because it was a challenge. We had to cover the beats for the teams on campus. We had to face challenges like interviewing the coaches. My professors wanted to see what kind of questions we came up with. Later on in life I went on to have TV shows. Before the pandemic hit I was on a show every Monday night at 10 o'clock here. And it was just funny topics, stupid topics, and some sports, of course, local stuff here in Charlotte. I did try to get a job with NFL Network and probably five years or six years ago because I think the fans need a perspective on TV of special teams. It's a third of the game, no matter how you look at it. I don't care how good or bad your offense and defense are, your special teams can win and lose your games.
There's no doubt. And I think that perspective, from someone that actually played the game or really knows what they're talking about. To me, they don't see special teams as important to pay somebody to talk about. And all you ever see on TV, you'll see Jay Feely every once in a while talk about the kicker. I don't know the X's and O's good enough to fully commentate a football game. I really don't. I'll be honest. And that's not my interest. My interest is special teams, which is a third of the game. And if there is ever an opportunity to do that, then I will absolutely jump on it because I think it is very important.
Noah: I read a story about how Josh Miller, your former teammate, kind of helped you get picked by the Steelers. you were one of four people who were a part of a team tryout. He said that you look like the coolest guy to hang out with out of the four people trying out and he put in a strong pitch for you. He even took the blame on a couple kicks you missed. Is this all true? Can you tell your side of this?
Reed: Well, I certainly wouldn't blame him for any kick I've missed. I'll tell you when I came to Pittsburgh, it was my seventh tryout and 10 weeks after the Saints released me in 2002. So I had been to the warmest places and sweat my butt off and then I got to Pittsburgh in November. Heinz Field used to be I mean, I mean, yeah, it's windy, but it's windy, a lot of places.
You can't blame wind for everything. Yes, it gets cold, but it gets cold in a lot of places. But I was coming from North Carolina, because obviously that's where I was working on a farm just to make a check and then the Steelers called. I got there and the high school uprights were on the field because I guess the high schools were about to play there. So that was interesting in itself. It was sleeting.
It was, I don't know, high 20s, very windy. I just came out of 65 and sunny, so it was very different. It was me, another rookie and two veterans there to try out. Then Josh and Mike Schnek as my snapper and holder. It was very slick. I didn't have the right shoes. I had no idea what I was getting into. I just heard icefields are a kicker’s nightmare. I'm like, ‘Okay, well, then if you know that going into it, then you'll probably be fine.’
We all kicked very average. I tell this story all the time, because people are like, ‘you must have crushed them in the workout.’ And I say ‘absolutely not.’ I remember Kevin Colbert, coach Cowher, the Rooney's, and special teams coach, even some other coaches were out there. It was very, very tough weather to kick in. Even with all your footing.
And, you know, I just, I was just kind of like, ‘Man, this is crazy. This is where the Pittsburgh Steelers play.’ I hit the longest field goal, but I missed the 30 yarder. So they had to weigh their options. Kris Brown was awesome at three rivers. And in the first year, Heinz Field was open, he was 60%. Todd Peterson was the guy I replaced. I know, he had a rib injury. We had the same agent. I know he was 12 for 22 when I got there. I'm used to, you know, if you're not 80%, and you don't have a job. I mean, that's even that's what I was used to even in college, I thought I would get pulled out of a game.
If I missed one. I really thought everyone was moaning and complaining and slipping and sliding and falling under kicks. And you know, I was just kind of giggling under my breath. I wasn't laughing out loud or anything, because it was just like, ‘How in the hell did these guys expect us to make these kicks today?’ I didn't say a negative thing. I just went to the next kick. Josh has a great personality, as you know, now, but I didn't know then. His great personality kept me grounded and kept focused. I didn't talk to the snapper at the time because he was snapping and that's not the fault. But you know, I have a little bit of a different swag to you know, most kickers are weirdos that stand in the corner. I'm the kind of guy that's got my pants sagged. I really think I won that tryout. I mean, Josh may have vouched for me, he said he did afterwards when I signed with the team, but I mean, obviously I don't know what he told the coaches.
All four of us kind of got transported to the Southside facility. We all ate lunch and then one at a time went upstairs and talked to Kevin and coach Cowher. I was the last one to go up there. They signed me. Everyone came down and said good luck. It still didn't really hit me. I mean, I signed a big piece of paper with a lot of numbers on it, and I didn't read all the fine print and I'm just like, ‘Man, am I really going to play in the NFL at least one day?’ So that was cool, but I think they signed me because of character. I don't think they signed me because I out-kicked everybody. I think they saw the fact that I was having fun no matter what. They knew it was tough. They know there were tough conditions. They knew what had been there the first one and a half years and they're trying to find a guy that can look past that and succeed and thank goodness he gave me an opportunity.
Noah: In college, one of my fraternity brothers was a long snapper for the football team. He was always hanging out with the kickers and the punters. How important is it for specialists to have a good relationship?
Reed: It's huge, you know, and even when you get to the pro level. I learned this at the pro level, believe it or not, because you understand I played one year of high school, I played five years of college, I was in college, four and a half years, but I only played a year and a half. So that's two and a half years of playing time before I got to the NFL. So I was learning, like big time learning. A lot of things I'm learning from new coaches. I'm learning what certain guys are going to do and say.
There's actually a way a good holder and snapper, where you can always catch the ball. I mean every once in a while this snapper is not going to be perfect. That's all right. But you can catch it on a certain amount of rotations and the laces are always out. Who the hell would ever know that? So that you don't have to turn the ball, the kicker gets to see it, and you're saving time constantly. I mean, every single one of my teammates I got along with and had a great time with. Some were strictly to their families which is fine and even some of the family guys you know, would take young young dude like me straight out of college out to dinner. Buy me a drink or two and have a good time.
You're always with your punter and your snapper most often. Sometimes the snapper has to do certain things throughout practice that we don't have to do. But it's huge because you know, when you're in a bond with somebody like that, just like the center and the quarterback. Even when you bond with somebody like that, there's a trust issue, and the trust issue is a great thing. If you bond with those people they will lay it on the line for you on game day and that's what you need.
Noah: Your first playoff game as a Pittsburgh Steeler was an all time classic. It was a win against the Browns, the comeback win at Heinz Field. Take me through your first experience in the postseason as a Steeler.
Reed: It was crazy. That atmosphere is something special. Heinz Field is probably louder than most places now with just the 7,500 fans but, you know, it's just when you run out of that tunnel. When you run out of that tunnel, you instantly know that however many thousand people got your back, you may see a handful of different colored jerseys in those stands, but you pretty much see black and gold. People have their faces painted and your name on their chest. I mean, people are nuts, but in a good way.
So when you run out of that tunnel, in the regular season, it's like that. Then you run out in that tunnel in the playoffs, it's do or die and you can feel the energy, literally feel it. As a kicker, you have to calm down. You can't go headbutt lockers and tackle your teammates before the game. You gotta gotta get out the way. Back then we never, I mean, of course that was my first year so what would I know, but I was told we never lose to the Browns. So I'm like, okay, well, that's good. We're going to win this first one and, you know, that's it.
That's all I was thinking is we're going to find a way to win this. But when we saw that score, and you know, before I think it was Northcutt dropped that ball, I mean, it was over man. They were about to seal the deal. And so you talk about going from ‘I can't believe we're losing in the first round to these guys to Fu scoring that touchdown, and everyone going nuts, I mean, dude, that was almost like a heart attack because it's such a huge sudden change of energy. The atmosphere there in the playoffs is even more energy.
It's been sold out for however many years straight and ain't going to change. So just playing there, you know that not only your 60 teammates out there on the field with you have your back, plus these coaches and everyone else in the organization, but you have 60,000-plus people too and it's a hell of a feeling.
Noah: So the next year the Steelers have a rare losing season. That following offseason, the franchise drafts a guy named Ben Roethlisberger. You have a front row seat to watch him take over the team in 2004. What was it like watching him come into action and really put his stamp on the league?
Reed: Well, we knew from watching him practice that the guy was talented. I mean, they didn't draft the guy to have them hold a clipboard. Tommy Maddox was awesome. Kordell Stewart was awesome. Those guys are great. Tommy was my holder. He was one of the best holders I've ever had in my life. It was just tough because I didn't get as much work with him because he was the starting quarterback. But when Ben came in, I mean, he's a super athletic guy, he always knows his whereabouts. He's still like that.
I know that he's obviously older, so he's not as fast and everybody gives him hell about that stuff but nobody after 17 years later is the same speed. I don't care what kind of training you do or if you've never been hurt, that's just life. But I mean, his awareness. I mean, you'll see guys about the blind side him and he ducks out of the way or makes a sudden movement and throws a 50 yard touchdown pass.
He was doing that stuff daily. He did make mistakes because we had the top defense that was messing with him. But at the same time, we knew the potential was there. It's like Tua in Miami and the young kid in Los Angeles, they're going to play you just don't know when.
Noah: One of my favorite memories as a young Steeler fan was actually the playoff game you won against the Jets in 2004, which happened to be the game you kicked your first career game winning field goal in the postseason. Doug Brein also missed a few big kicks that game. In a game like that, where there's a lot of pressure, the elements are playing a factor, it's the postseason, and your opposition is missing kicks, how do you stay mentally focused and confident when your number is called?
Reed: Well, I think we had the wrong attitude in that game because we were 15-1 and were coming off the bye week. I think the Jets upset somebody so we honestly thought, ‘Oh, yeah, we have to show up but we're just going to stomp these dudes.’ In the end, there was a good chance we would’ve lost that game even after you know, he missed those three kicks, I believe.
Two in regular time and one in overtime. I hit the 33 yarder. But you know, I hate when kickers miss big kicks but if you're playing against them, it's okay because it gives you an opportunity to win. It's not that I'm cheering against them, it's just the fact that I know that if I get an opportunity I have to come through. That's it. I mean, my biggest thing was a pressure kick. I enjoyed them. I appreciated the people that tried to ice me because it gave me an opportunity to get a nice little spot out there on the field. It wasn't messing with my head.
I mean, you heard a couple of comments from the opposing players, which were kind of funny, but other than that, I mean, you know, it's not like all of a sudden, I'm freezing. I'm ice. If you get away from everyone, you kind of go to La La Land, in the middle of the field by yourself. When the ref blows a whistle, you go take your steps, you make the kicks. I mean, that's what you're supposed to do. Is it easy? Hell no, it's not. Was I nervous? Of course! If you don't get nervous, you don't have a pulse.
That's just life. But you know, that’s a kick, I'll never forget it. I mean, I don't think any Steeler fan will ever forget it. But the reason I won't forget it, even though I kicked it, we got in the locker room and I got bombarded. And then after I got bombarded, I finally went to my locker as my heart was pounding and Jerome Bettis jumped in my arms.
And, you know, obviously he's a Hall of Famer, obviously, he's one of the faces of the Steelers, and always will be. But, you know, when you know, you did your job well enough to have that happen, I mean, it's a hell of a feeling, man. And, you can put all the BS and nonsense aside, because we were out there and truly fighting for each other. I mean, I'm not going to go sack the quarterback. And I'm not going to, you know, strip fumble like all these guys but not all of them can kick either.
So, we all have a role and when you play it as best you can, you’re usually victorious. I'm glad you mentioned it. That was one of the coolest memories of Heinz Field for me.
Noah: The next year, you guys go on one of the most legendary Super Bowl runs in the history of the game. At what point during that run in 2005 did you really start to believe? What game did you guys win and think you could really go all the way?
Reed: Well, it kind of started with that Chicago game at home in the snow. You know, I bet everybody always shows Jerome running over Urlacher. That was a huge turning point in our season. I mean, we talked about it in practice. Not that, because we didn't know what's going to happen but we talked about it, all we need to do is win this game.
If you look at the playoff picture and watch too much TV, you're going to psych yourself out, basically, because nobody was giving us a chance. We weren't supposed to be Chicago. They were actually very, very good. And their defense was right there with ours. I don't know if they were one, or who we were one but we were both top five. So going out there and that play itself, you know, define that game and our attitudes, then we never look back. Then sneaking in as a six seed, I remember those shirts that said ‘six seed’ on it.
I'll always have mine on if it doesn't fit as good anymore. But I always have mine and that that run was crazy. We go to Cincinnati, then we go to Indy. And you know, they, I think they were about 14-2 and they were blowing everybody out. Nobody gave us a chance and beat them. Then we go to Denver and handle them. And then we win the Super Bowl.
So the coolest thing about the Super Bowl was Jerome's family's from Detroit, outside of the actual game, because obviously that's why you're there, his mother hosted the entire team, the coaching staff, all the trainers and all the people in upper office.
She hosted everyone in her house and would not let us stop eating, which was kind of scary because you'd be full and then here comes another plate, and you couldn't waste Jerome's mom's food or you would not hear the end of it. So that was the coolest thing being in Jerome's mom's house and her feeding probably 100 people, if not more. That was really cool. That was a few days before the game so we can all digest a little better.
Noah: A few years after you guys win the Super Bowl, a big moment in Steelers history occurs. Bill Cowher retires and Mike Tomlin is hired. Take me through that transition.
Reed: Well, you know, Coach Cowher is old school, and you know, he's the one who gave me my initial chance. So it was tough to see his wife battling her health issues, and he needed some family time. I mean, he really did. And I don't blame him for that. Because he left a mark that'll never be overlooked in Pittsburgh history and NFL history, really.
So we were used to a certain way. Coach Tomlin was a great guy, super young. I mean, I think he and James Farrior played against each other in college. And now he was coaching James, crazy enough. He was a very successful coach, very successful coordinator, and defensive backs coach and everything. We all thought personally as players, we thought it was going to be Bruce Arians, because that's what we just thought. And you know, the Rooney's did their thing and, you know, hired Mike Tomlin and it’s out great.
When he came in as a first time head coach, you know, he's trying to put his foot down, and we were so used to our style. As long as we did what we were supposed to do in practice and on the field on Sundays or Mondays, coach Cowher left us alone. Just work hard. That's all he would ask of you, to do your best. Now if you're over there messing around, yeah, you know, he lights up a little bit. Tomlin came in, we were wearing full pads way too often. Not that it matters for me personally, but the other guys.
They're hitting too much in practice halfway through the year. I just heard the rumbles you know, I wasn't in the middle of that. I was just listening to what the guys were saying. And we by the time we got to the playoffs to play Jacksonville, and we lost at home, I mean, the guys were worn out. I mean, if you come into a hard nosed town, blue collar town, that's a team that has won at the time, five Super Bowls.
You kind of bring a different attitude in coming from Tampa. It's just a different feel. You're going somewhere that you know is going to be successful. Now you're the head guy. So it better be from a place that should be pretty good because they had their Warren Sapp and all those guys. Overall, the two guys had totally different styles, but both are great people and both were fun to play for.
Noah: So Super Bowl XLIII, there's just over two minutes left and the Steelers get the ball. They're down by three, it's 23-20, Arizona, and you’re starting inside your own 10. Are you kind of thinking hey, a touchdown would be nice, because we'd probably win the Super Bowl, but a last second field goal to tie it and then send it to overtime would also be cool for you personally. Are you thinking about that at all? Are you just rooting for a touchdown?
Reed: Well, you're rooting to get ahead. However you can. Yeah. Obviously, it's less pressure for me. If we go ahead and score then I can make the extra point and go kick off and our defense will show up. Yeah, but that's ideal. You know, why would it be that? Why wouldn't we make it interesting, right? So I'm assuming I'm going to have a long kick.
And well, what most people don't realize, because it was not on their injury report is I played that game with a partially torn hamstring in my kicking leg. So I was injured. The trainer knew and it took care of it accordingly. I mean, I couldn't walk two days before the game. But this was the Super Bowl. So I'm either going to kick well, and we're going to win, or during one of my kicks, my leg may fly off and that'll always be on the highlight reel.
I was in a ton of pain, but it's a Super Bowl. So unless, you absolutely can't walk or you have, you know, a severe injury you play. And so we got to the point where it's going to be a 50 yard field goal on third down, and I was more than ready. It was a perfect day there. It would have been awesome to make that and win the game that way but we didn't need me. Our offense was awesome.
They always have been, everybody makes mistakes but ultimately, they made some huge plays. And then obviously, you had the big play with Santonio sneaking his feet in the back of the end zone. That pass to me when I watch it is unreal and that catch is even more unreal because he was not open. He had triple coverage, and he caught it and he got his feet in.
I guess it was an easy way out for me even though the extra point was huge because it made it four points. And then you know, nobody cared that I had a partially torn hamstring in my kicking leg. I had to go out there and kick a damn touch back.
Well, I had it about to the goal line, and we tackled him pretty well. But you know, if I don't make that extra point, they have a chance for a long field goal because they are on the 50 yard line before Woodley, strip sacked Kurt Warner. So those are the little things that you don't look at.
Noah: You did have a couple of run ins with the law with the most notable incident taking place at Sheetz. Do you feel like your job became harder after those incidents? Do you feel like people became extra hard on you?
Reed: I don't think so because ultimately, I still had the chance to kick a football. It doesn't matter what happened there. I can tell my version of the story, but it really doesn't matter. Everyone's formed their own opinions. I still hear about paper towel dispensers to this day, you know, over 10 years later, so I guess that's never going to go away.
But I guess at least I'm remembered somehow. The crazy things about both times that I got supposedly in trouble, even though I was never arrested on either one, is I was with my dad. So if you're going to do something really that stupid, you're probably not going to be with your parents, you know? So you can look at it from all kinds of different views.
I know what happened there. I know it was a police officer that wanted to make a name for himself. He told me, ‘This is the dumbest thing I've ever been called for. You're going to have to pay reparations because a piece broke off a paper towel dispenser and here's the citation and it's not going to make the news at 6 am.’ The next day, it's national news.
You know, so that's how that goes, though. You're allowed to be human, but you gotta be careful being human, you know? No, and I wasn't hammered up like everybody assumes. I was with my father. And we did have a driver, it was to an autograph signing that was a little bit down the road from there, about 30 minutes or so. But nobody cares about that.
All they care about is what happened. But to answer your question, it didn't make it harder. It was just everyone's only focus was about that instead of what I did the previous week, how am I feeling, what I'm about to do in a couple days. They're interviewing me about an incident non stop as if I murdered somebody.
The things that have happened in this league, and I won't call anyone out because we all have our set of issues, but the things that have happened in this league, I mean, that incident should be like an actual laughter kind of conversation, because there's some bad stuff out there. I understand things do happen but you know, mine shouldn't even really be mentioned, but I guess it's so stupid that it's relevant.
Noah: Do you want to tell your side of the story here? Would you rather just move on?
Reed: No, I mean, not really. I mean, the bottom line is the cops were called for somebody else. There were two guys in there. All we were doing was, our driver had to get gas and roll in the restroom. That was it. There were six of us. It was my dad and I, two of my buddies and they had their girlfriends with them. And that was it.
We all went inside, there were two dudes in there, we had no idea who they were, tackling all these candy bar shelves and potato chips. It was actually kind of funny. But I mean, they were just like tackling this stuff. It was a complete mess. And obviously, I had my crazy blonde hair so I was noticeable. I went to the bathroom and literally was walking out there were no paper towels, I hit the paper towel dispenser a piece, the size of a cell phone fell off and the door was cracked and the lady that was very unhappy with her job at the time saw it and said, ‘That’s alright, the cops are already on their way. I'm going to let them know about you. I know you are.’
And I was like, 'She can't be serious' after what I just saw but those guys bolted before the cops got there. So she was left with getting somebody in trouble and because I supposedly damaged their property, that's where that came from. And literally, it was over in no time at all. I think I had to pay like, I don't know, $250 or something. That was it but it definitely wasn't worthy of national news. It's a funny story, you tell your friends but you know, it wasn't funny to the people that wrote my paycheck and that's what bothered me.
I'm not really worried about everyone else's opinion. I never have been. But when you're playing for somebody, and you know, Mr. Rooney called me to his office, and somebody explained, and I told him everything, every single detail whether he wanted to hear it or not, and he said, ‘Oh, my son's crazier than that, you'll be fine. Just go out there and keep kicking, like you’re kicking.’ And so I thought it was done. Did that have anything to do with me getting released down the road? I don't know. You just never know.
I mean, this league, it's a business. If you're making $100,000, but I can do your job for $40,000, they're probably going to give it to me. When I was playing, there were guys that were in league, even five, at least five years after me too, that were old dudes that were just reliable. They were never going to get cut, even if they missed a lot like Adam Vinatieri last year. Adam is a great, great person. I've met him. He's awesome, dude. But he was struggling last year, but they weren't going to cut him. It’s Adam Vinatieri.
They're going to still hope and pray he hits a couple game winners, and then, you know, do what they got to do the next season. But that's just out of respect. So I didn't think that had anything to do with it but then again, to this day, you just never know. And it's okay. I look back and I don't want to change anything that's happened in my life.
Noah: Okay, so moving forward, let's talk about the hair. You have had some wild looks during your time. Take me through the decisions behind your style.
Reed: Well, when I was in high school, I had a flat top literally like a flat top like I was in the military, but I don't know why I did that either. I had a comb over as a young boy. But the flat top was the thing that it was in style or I just liked it. I'm not sure which.
Then the headband was just me being me. I didn't do it until I was in the pros. I don't know what it was, it's just the easy way to fix my hair. You put that on, you poof out the back, you know a little bit, and then you spiked up the front. And that's there's no hairspray and that that's just that's just hair and water. So that's really easy. And it's a different look.
And you know a lot of people make fun of you for and a lot of people say ‘I love that because that fits you.’ Every summer I would shave my head and then and then besides getting my neck trimmed and my sideburns and my around my ears trimmed, I would let it grow the entire season. And so that's where the hair thing came from.
I don't know. I mean, I had a couple of crazy hair times when it was like a huge Afro. And then I had of course the blonde that came from, I told my teammates, because we were doing great, so we're definitely going to make the playoffs and I said that the second we clinched a spot I'm going to dye my hair like Ric Flair because I used to work for Ric.
They're like, ‘There's no way you'll do that.’ And I said, well, 'As soon as we clinch, so we have a little asterisk next to our name, we're already in the playoffs, then I'll do it.' And of course that happened about two weeks later. So that's why that blonde hair came out. I don’t know how women do it man. That's a long process. I was under that heater for about three and a half hours because I wanted to do it the right way. I wanted to get it professionally done.
Noah: Wait, you worked for Ric Flair?
Reed: So, Ric Flair is obviously from Charlotte, North Carolina, which is where I lived when I was younger. I was a trainer for him. I wasn't certified. He owned Ric Flair’s Gold's gyms. Since then, they've been replaced by Planet Fitness and stuff, because obviously he doesn't do that anymore, but I was one of his trainers. I cleaned the whole gym.
People that did machines only, no free weights, I took them through how to do it properly and set their weights. So I wasn't like a personal trainer, doing CrossFit with these old ladies and old men but when they were trying to do a workout and had questions, I was there for that. That was when the four horsemen and Lex Luger and all these dudes were in the gym all the time. So obviously I'm a huge wrestling fan.
If you work for Ric, you kind of have to become a wrestling fan. I’d watch it every Monday and Friday and I kept some of the pay per views but yeah, that's when I worked for him. I worked for him for about two years. Man he was was a trip.
Noah: Do you think there was another Pittsburgh athlete who cheered for Pittsburgh sports harder than you did when you were in Pittsburgh?
Reed: I don't think so. I have season tickets to the Penguins still. I was really disappointed I couldn't get to the games this year, of course. But you know, I like to sit with the fans like the true fans. You won't catch me in a box all the time, secluded from everybody. You know, I like to be in the atmosphere because I'm a fan just like they are. I’ve had some great times at Penguins games.
I went to a lot of pirates games. Mr. Rooney blessed me with his perfect seats on the first base side. The Pirates atmosphere was awesome. I'd sit in the stands there too.If the riverhounds existed when I was there, I'd be in those stands. I used to go to a ton of Pitt basketball games, sit in the front row with my buddies that got me tickets.
And you know, I'm a Tar Heel, we're not supposed to like Pitt but I would go watch Pitt against Syracuse, when the Big East was the Big East. Those UConn versus Pitt games were crazy. That was when the Big East was really fun to watch. I'm a sports guy. I'm not out in public to see how many pictures I can take or how many autographs I can sign, although I will. I'm there because I truly supporting the city.
I've never put on a pair of hockey skates and I've never played baseball in my life either. But those are talents that I don't have, at least I don't think I have. I just enjoy watching people do something at a high level.
Noah: One last moment of your career that I want to ask you about: November 27, 2007. Monday Night Football. The Steelers win 3-0 over the Dolphins. You kicked a game winner. Take me through that wild night.
Reed: It was crazy because the field was getting worn out with us, Pitt and high school playing on it. The weather was supposed to be somewhat warm. They were replacing the field. So I was excited and the temperature was pretty decent.
Then overnight and through the day, it was a complete monsoon. When you replace a brand new field on top of another field, it was kind of torn up. It's 10 times as bad. And so that kind of went away. Coach Tomlin was funny. He was messing with me in pregame warmups, you know, because I did what I could. I think Jay Feely was a Dolphins kicker and he told me pregame, he said, ‘I'm not kicking at all unless it's an extra point.’
I said, ‘That's kind of how I feel, but uh, I'm going to kick if I get an opportunity,’ because at that time my stats were great. And because coach Tomlin was like ‘What do you think?’ I said, this is both in warmups, I said, ‘I think this game is going to be 3-0.’ And I said, ‘I don't know who's going to win, I hope us. It's hard for anyone to run on this. I mean, even if there's a fumble, it's not going to bounce very well, they're going to fall on it. I'm sure it's going to be hard and hard to pass.
So, unless somebody breaks a huge run, or something, we're just going to have to make it work.’ I said, just, ‘If you feel comfortable sending me out there, I'm comfortable with kicking.’ He said, ‘Alright, I like it,’and then he walked and walked away. We had a 44 yard attempt in the first half, and it was awful, it wasn't even close. I mean, it got over the line and it had the distance, but it was way left. But you know, I didn't get frustrated. Well, actually I did but you just know going into this that it's not going to be easy.
Then right with 17 seconds left, you know, 27 yard field goal. I don't know how Ben and the offense found that spot, but most of the game had been played on the other side of the field. It was still mud, but there was a way you can actually plant without falling down. So that's why that would look high and right down the middle because you know, it was in a great spot. So crazy enough, the final score ended up being 3-0.
To score the only points in an NFL game, it's got to be some kind of some kind of record somewhere and not to say that really matters. I participated in a video about the game on ESPN last year. They called the game the mud bowl. I will have to try to find that video for you.
