Floyd Reese
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Floyd Reese was the General Manager of the NFL Tennessee Titans from 1994 - 2006. He is currently a television commentator on ESPN NFL Live and a writer on ESPN.COM. Reese is known for drafting 3 NFL Rookies of the Year with only 11 first round draft choices. He has successfully drafted a Rookie of the Year in over 27% of his first round selections. The Rookies of the Year include Eddie George (1996), Jevon Kearse (1999) and Vince Young (2006). Reese is also known for drafting NFL co-MVP Steve McNair.
Reese also played football at UCLA and in the Canadian Football League.
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[edit] UCLA
Reese was a three-year letterman and three-year starter (making 28 of 30 starts) for the UCLA Bruins.[1] He was voted UCLA rookie of the year in 1967 as he earned his starting job at defensive tackle.
Reese led a top-notch Bruin defense that gave up 103 points (9th best in school history) and posted an 8-1-1 record his senior year with a final UPI ranking of 10th.[2] The 1969 Bruin defense gave up only 2595 total yards, ranking 11th best in school history and a mark that has not been approached since. Against the run, the team's mark of allowing 1237 yards still ranks 10th all-time and gave up only 5 rushing touchdowns which is the best in school history. The 1969 was 5-1/2 game improved over the 1968 3-7 Bruin team and was officially recognized as the NCAA's most improved team. [3]
Reese was an All-American in 1969. He was voted the team co-MVP in 1969 (along with QB Dennis Dummit) making him the only defensive player ever to win the award. Reese was one of UCLA's tri-captains as well and All-Pac-8. He was voted to the Los Angeles Times All-Time UCLA team in 1970. Reese's UCLA coach, Tommy Prothro, said he was the "finest defensive lineman I've ever had."[4] Played in the Hula Bowl after his senior season and was voted the game's outstanding lineman.
Reese played one season in the Canadian Football League (1970) for the Montreal Alouettes. He signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 1971 but did not play and decided to move into coaching that same year.
[edit] NFL Coaching
Reese was an assistant coach at UCLA from 1971-73 and also with Georgia Tech in 1974. He became the Detroit Lions strength and conditioning coach in 1975 and moved to the San Francisco 49ers as strength and conditioning coach in 1978.
Reese became the Minnesota Vikings linebacker coach and special teams from 1979 though 1983 and was the Viking defensive coordinator in 1984. He returned to the post of linebacker coach in 1985. The next season Reese began his four year stint as linebacker coach for the Houston Oilers. From 1990-93 he was the assistant General Manager. In 1994 Reese was promoted to the top role of General Manager, where he remained through the 2006 season.
[edit] Accomplishments as a General Manager
Floyd Reese is the winningest General Manager in the history of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise. He has amassed 111 wins. Only Reese and the highly established Kansas City Chiefs General Manager, Carl Peterson, have accomplished since the institution of the salary cap. Only two active General Managers in the NFL have more wins than Floyd Reese.
From 1999 - 2006, Reese was 3rd in the league in draft choices that remain playing in the NFL and 7th in the NFL in draft choices remaining on the Titans' roster. Since 1997, Reese brought the Titans to one Super Bowl, two AFC Championships, 2 divisional championships, 4 playoff appearances, and a 5-4 playoff record. He also had two 13-3 seasons and four 11+ win seasons. Reese had a league-high 56 wins from 1999-2003.
