Willard Reaves facts for kids

Willard Sheldon Reaves (born August 17, 1959) is an American-Canadian former professional gridiron football player. He was a talented running back, which is a player who runs with the ball. Reaves played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also played for the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins in the National Football League (NFL). After his football career, Reaves became involved in politics. He served as a leader for the Manitoba Liberal Party.

Willard Reaves' College Football Journey

Willard Reaves played college football at Northern Arizona University. He played there from 1977 to 1980. During his time, he ran for a total of 2,139 yards. His best year was 1979, when he rushed for 1,084 yards. That year, he was named First-team All Big Sky Conference First-team All American.

After his playing days, Reaves was honored for his achievements. In 1992, he joined the Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Fame. Later, in 2002, he became a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

Willard Reaves' Professional Football Career

Willard Reaves played in two major football leagues. He played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

Playing in the Canadian Football League

Reaves spent five seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played for them from 1983 to 1987. In his first year, 1983, he rushed for 898 yards. He was almost named the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie. He also became an all-star player.

The year 1984 was amazing for Reaves. He led the entire league in rushing yards with 1,733. He carried the ball 304 times and scored 18 touchdowns. All of these were new team records for the Blue Bombers. He also set a CFL record with 2,140 yards gained from scrimmage. This means he gained yards by both running and catching the ball. For his incredible performance, he won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. He also helped his team win the 72nd Grey Cup. This was the Blue Bombers' first Grey Cup victory since 1962.

Reaves continued to be a top player. He rushed for over 1,000 yards two more times. He gained 1,323 yards in 1985 and 1,471 yards in 1987. He led the league in rushing in both of those seasons. By the end of his time with the Blue Bombers, he had rushed for a total of 5,923 yards. He led the CFL in rushing three times in his career. He was also named a CFL all-star three times.

Playing in the National Football League

In 1988, Reaves had a disagreement with the Blue Bombers about his contract. He was released from the team. He then tried out for teams in the NFL. He had not been drafted by an NFL team when he first became professional. In 1989, he played two games with the Miami Dolphins. He also played one game with the Washington Redskins that same year.

Willard Reaves' Political Career

After his football career, Willard Reaves entered the world of politics. In October 2021, he was announced as a candidate for the Manitoba Liberal Party. He ran in a special election for the Fort Whyte area in 2022. He ran for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Reaves did not win this election. He lost to another former Blue Bomber player, Obby Khan. Khan was from the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.

Reaves ran against Khan again in the 2023 Manitoba general election. However, he was defeated once more. On November 28, 2023, Reaves was given an important role. He was named the deputy leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party. He held this position for several months, stepping down on June 26, 2024.

Willard Reaves' Personal Life and Family

After retiring from the NFL, Willard Reaves moved back to Winnipeg, Canada. He became a sergeant with the Manitoba Sheriff Service. Willard has four children.

His oldest son, Ryan Reaves, is a professional ice hockey player. Ryan plays as a right wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League. Willard's youngest son, Jordan Reaves, is also a professional football player. Jordan plays for the Edmonton Elks in the CFL. Willard also has two daughters named Regina and Renee.

Willard Reaves has a famous ancestor. He is the great-great-grandson of Bass Reeves. Bass Reeves was a former slave who became the first Black lawman west of the Mississippi River. He was also one of the first Black U.S. deputy marshals. Bass Reeves' life story was featured in a 2023 TV series called Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Bass served as a deputy U.S. marshal in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He worked under a judge known as the "Hanging Judge," Isaac C. Parker.