Jordan Reaves (born January 25, 1990) is a Canadian football defensive lineman who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Reaves originally played basketball for the Brandon Bobcats of Canadian Interuniversity Sport before making the switch to football.
 Reaves with the Elks in 2023 | |
| Born: | January 25, 1990 Winnipeg, Manitoba |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Status | Active |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | Defensive lineman |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Weight | 230 lb (100 kg) |
| University | Brandon |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2015 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers* |
| 2016–2021 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 2022–2023 | Edmonton Elks |
| *Pre-season and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career stats | |
| |
College career
editBrandon University
editReaves played from 2010-2014 for the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team.[1]
Professional career
editWinnipeg Blue Bombers
editReaves was signed by his hometown Winnipeg Blue Bombers on April 9, 2015, following workouts in Winnipeg and at the 2015 Edmonton Regional Combine.[2][3] He played in two pre-season games as a wide receiver and recorded one catch for six yards. Reaves was part of the team's final cuts on June 20, 2016.[4]
Saskatchewan Roughriders
editAfter spending the 2015 CFL season unsigned by a CFL team, Reaves signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on January 29, 2016.[5] While listed as a defensive back, Reaves practiced as a defensive lineman through training camp and upon making the team, he dressed in his first regular season game on June 30, 2016, as a backup defensive end.[6] He played in five games for the Roughriders in 2016 and recorded two special teams tackles. He was released during training camp the following year on June 18, 2017.[7] On May 20, 2018, he re-signed with Saskatchewan for 2018 training camp.[8] Reaves signed a one-year contract extension with the Roughriders on December 21, 2020.[9]
Edmonton Elks
editReaves joined the Edmonton Elks in free agency on February 15, 2022.[10] He played in eight regular season games in 2022 where he had two special teams tackles. The Elks announced Reaves was re-signed on July 3, 2023.[11] In 2023, he played in 11 regular season games and recorded seven special teams tackles. He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 13, 2024.[12]
Personal life
editJordan is the youngest son of former Winnipeg Blue Bomber running back Willard Reaves, who played with the team for five years and was a member of the 72nd Grey Cup winning team.[13] Jordan is also the younger brother of Ryan Reaves, a professional hockey player and right wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.
In February 2008, Reaves was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, which he pleaded guilty to in December 2008, and received a conditional sentence, one year of supervised probation, and was not allowed to possess a weapon for 10-years.[14] In 2016, Reaves was charged with one count of drug trafficking, but was set free on bail, after a routine traffic stop discovered cocaine in his possession.[14][15] His trial in Winnipeg began in November 2017, where he pleaded his innocence.[16][14][15] On January 24, 2018, he was acquitted of drug trafficking charges after the judge determined there was a lack of evidence.[17][18]
Reaves is the great-great-great-grandson of Bass Reeves,[19] a former slave who was the first black lawman west of the Mississippi River and among the first black U.S. deputy marshalls; Reeves' life is the focus of the 2023 TV series Lawmen: Bass Reeves.[20] Bass served as a deputy U.S. marshal in Fort Smith, Arkansas, under the direction of judge Isaac C. Parker, known as the "Hanging Judge".
References
edit- ^ Jordan Reaves bio
- ^ Bomber sign Winnipegger Jordan Reaves
- ^ Former Bobcat basketball star signs with Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- ^ Bombers hopefuls Yantz and Reaves were never on O’Shea’s radar
- ^ Riders add four to roster
- ^ 'I'm having the time of my life,' says Roughriders rookie Jordan Reaves
- ^ CFL Transactions
- ^ "RIDERS TRANSACTION- MAY 20TH". riderville.com. May 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ "Riders add five, including two Canadians". CFL.ca. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ "Reaves signs in Edmonton". Edmonton Elks. February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ^ Swane, Brian (July 3, 2023). "TRANSACTIONS | Elks sign Boyko and Reaves". Edmonton Elks.
- ^ "Official 2024 Free Agent Tracker". Canadian Football League. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ Krever, Jeff (April 14, 2015). "Hard turf: Reaves attempts historic football comeback". cfl.ca. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c May, Katie (November 20, 2017). "Ex-CFLer's trial for drug trafficking delayed". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ a b Canadian Press (March 17, 2017). "Saskatchewan Roughrider Jordan Reaves facing trial on cocaine charge". sportsnet.ca. Winnipeg. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "Roughriders 'disappointed' by Jordan Reaves drug trafficking charge". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ Foxall, Diana (January 24, 2018). "Former CFLer Jordan Reaves acquitted of drug trafficking charges". globalnews.ca. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ Canadian Press (January 24, 2018). "Former Saskatchewan Roughriders player acquitted on drug charge". sportsnet.ca. Winnipeg. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "Reaves putting Kane feud aside, joining him for 'much bigger cause'". June 14, 2020.
- ^ Clark, Ryan S. (16 November 2023). "Ryan Reaves talks about TV show based on a his great-great-great-grandfather". ESPN. Retrieved 17 November 2023.