Reggie Stephens (cornerback) facts for kids

Reggie Stephens, born on February 21, 1975, is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Arena Football League (AFL). Before turning professional, he played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Growing Up: Early Life and Sports

Reggie Stephens was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. When he was 15, he moved to Santa Cruz, California. There, he went to Santa Cruz High School. He played high school football with another future player, Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Reggie was also a talented track and field athlete. He competed in races like the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. He also did the long jump and the 400-meter relay. Today, Reggie is honored in the Santa Cruz High School Athletics Hall of Fame. He is recognized for his achievements in sports and for his coaching.

College Football Journey

After finishing high school, Reggie Stephens played junior college football at Cabrillo College. This college is located in Aptos, California.

Later, he was accepted into Rutgers University–New Brunswick. There, he continued his college football career with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. In his final year at Rutgers, Reggie achieved great success. He won the Homer Hazel Trophy, which is given to the most valuable player (MVP) of the 1998 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team. He was also named First Team All-Big East by The Football News. In January 1999, he played in the East–West Shrine Bowl at Stanford Stadium. This game features top college players.

Professional Football Career

Reggie Stephens played for the New York Giants in the NFL from 1999 to 2003. In his second season, in 2000, he made three interceptions. He was also a key player on special teams. His efforts helped the Giants reach Super Bowl XXXV.