1. Eric Reid played college football for LSU Tigers, receiving consensus All-American recognition.
39 Facts About Eric Reid
1. 2.
Eric Reid was selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, with whom he made the 2014 Pro Bowl.
3.
Eric Reid attended Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana, where he played football, basketball, and ran track.
4.
Eric Reid played in the 2010 US Army All-American Bowl.
5.
Eric Reid's father was the 1987 NCAA Champion while at LSU.
6.
Eric Reid enrolled at Louisiana State University, where he played for coach Les Miles's LSU Tigers football team from 2010 to 2012.
7.
Eric Reid finished the season with 32 tackles and two interceptions.
8.
Eric Reid was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having received first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, ESPN, and Scout.
9.
Eric Reid received an invitation to the NFL combine and completed all of the required combine and positional drills.
10.
Eric Reid was ranked the second best free safety in the draft by NFLDraftScout.
11.
Eric Reid was the second safety selected behind Kenny Vaccaro and the second of six LSU players selected in the first three rounds, breaking the NFL draft record.
12.
Eric Reid was drafted to become the starting free safety after the San Francisco 49ers had lost Dashon Goldson, who opted to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during free agency.
13.
Eric Reid finished his rookie season with 77 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, and four interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts.
14.
Eric Reid was voted to be an alternate for the 2014 Pro Bowl.
15.
On January 21,2014, it was reported that Eric Reid would be replacing Kam Chancellor in the 2014 Pro Bowl.
16.
Eric Reid competed with rookie Jimmie Ward for the starting free safety position throughout training camp.
17.
Eric Reid was named the starting free safety to begin the 2014 season.
18.
Eric Reid finished the 2014 season with an impressive total of 42 combined tackles, seven pass deflections and three interceptions in 15 starts.
19.
On June 9,2015, it was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle that Eric Reid had contemplated retirement due to concerns over concussions after having suffered three in just the first two seasons of his professional career.
20.
Eric Reid remained the starting free safety to begin the 2015 season under new head coach Jim Tomsula.
21.
Eric Reid finished the season with 72 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and a sack in 16 games and 16 starts.
22.
Eric Reid was unable to finish the game after suffering a torn bicep.
23.
Eric Reid had an MRI and surgery to repair the tear the following day.
24.
Eric Reid finished with 62 combined tackles, five pass deflections, and an interception in ten games and ten starts.
25.
Eric Reid refused to disclose more details about the circumstances leading to his signing in a press conference later that day, citing the fact that the information pertained to his collusion lawsuit.
26.
Head coach Ron Rivera announced on October 5,2018, that Eric Reid would start at the free safety position in his season debut against the Giants on October 7,2018.
27.
Eric Reid ended up taking a knee before the game, becoming the first Panthers player ever to do so, and totaled three tackles.
28.
Eric Reid finished the season starting in 13 games, recording 71 tackles, one sack, five passes defensed, and an interception.
29.
On February 11,2019, Eric Reid signed a three-year, $22 million contract extension with the Panthers.
30.
On March 18,2020, Eric Reid was released by the Panthers.
31.
Mid-way through the 2020 season, Eric Reid was offered an opportunity to reunite with coach Ron Rivera on the Washington Football Team practice squad.
32.
In May 2018, Eric Reid filed an official grievance letter with the NFL alleging that team owners and the league, influenced by President Donald Trump, colluded to prevent his employment due to his protest activities.
33.
Eric Reid was the second NFL player after Colin Kaepernick to participate in US national anthem protests intended to highlight social awareness and racial injustice towards black people.
34.
Eric Reid's lawyers represent Kaepernick in a similar grievance case against the NFL.
35.
Nonetheless, the Panthers organization said the Eric Reid signing was football-oriented only.
36.
Eric Reid did not directly say that he would no longer kneel prior to games but stated that he was "considering other ways" of protesting.
37.
Eric Reid saw this as evidence of being targeted by the league and planned on including these seven drug tests as part of his case file in the proceedings of his collusion grievance against the league.
38.
Eric Reid's brother, Justin, is a safety in the NFL.
39.
Since Eric Reid decided to protest with Colin Kaepernick in the 2016 NFL season, the two have been collaborating to address social justice issues and help communities and people in need.