Professional Football Player. For twelve seasons (1972 to 1978, 1981, 1983 to 1985 and 1987), he played at the quarterback position in the National Football and United States Football Leagues with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Oilers, Tampa Bay Bandits and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Born Thomas Johnson Reaves, he made his initial impact on the football field at T.R. Robinson High School in Florida. He played collegiate football at the University of Florida and while with the Gators, he achieved All-American honors. At the time of his graduation, he held the NCAA record for passing yardage with 7,581. Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 14th overall pick during the 1972 NFL Draft, he shared quarterbacking duties with Pete Liske in 1972 and produced a career-high 1,508 passing yards that year. After he was acquired by the Cincinnati Bengals, he served as a backup to Ken Anderson and later backed up Ken Stabler while with the Houston Oilers. He expanded his playing career with the Tampa Bay Bandits with the United States Football League under coach Steve Spurrier (1983 to 1985) and during the strike-shortened 1987 NFL season, Reaves served as a replacement player for two games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After retiring as a player, he rejoined Spurrier to serve as an assistant at the University of Florida. He later worked in the real estate industry. He is a member of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Player. For twelve seasons (1972 to 1978, 1981, 1983 to 1985 and 1987), he played at the quarterback position in the National Football and United States Football Leagues with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Oilers, Tampa Bay Bandits and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Born Thomas Johnson Reaves, he made his initial impact on the football field at T.R. Robinson High School in Florida. He played collegiate football at the University of Florida and while with the Gators, he achieved All-American honors. At the time of his graduation, he held the NCAA record for passing yardage with 7,581. Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 14th overall pick during the 1972 NFL Draft, he shared quarterbacking duties with Pete Liske in 1972 and produced a career-high 1,508 passing yards that year. After he was acquired by the Cincinnati Bengals, he served as a backup to Ken Anderson and later backed up Ken Stabler while with the Houston Oilers. He expanded his playing career with the Tampa Bay Bandits with the United States Football League under coach Steve Spurrier (1983 to 1985) and during the strike-shortened 1987 NFL season, Reaves served as a replacement player for two games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After retiring as a player, he rejoined Spurrier to serve as an assistant at the University of Florida. He later worked in the real estate industry. He is a member of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Bio by: C.S.
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