Jeremy Reaves
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Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves.
The Washington Commanders don’t have a lot of players like safety and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves — no NFL team does.
Reaves is a building block. Not necessarily a star — although sometimes he is — but a foundational part of any success his team has had on any level. He does the dirty work, keeps the locker room together through hard times, and has become beloved by the fan base.
He’s the kind of guy you want to keep around if you’re an NFL team and never want to see walk out the door. That’s why the Commanders signed Reaves to an extension on Thursday that keeps him in D.C. until 2027.
The Commanders broke the news on their official X account with a post featuring a picture of Reaves that said “Extended” topped by “Our guy,” followed by the clapping hands emoji.
“Jeremy Reaves is back,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account.
Reaves, 29 years old, is in his 9th season with the Commanders and earned NFL All-Pro honors and was a Pro Bowl selection on special teams in 2022. It’s the 3rd consecutive season the Commanders have made a move to bring back Reaves following a 2-year, $6 million contract in 2024, a 1-year, $3.35 million contract extension.
In 2025, Reaves was pressed into a starting role due to injuries and had career highs in starts (8), tackles (57), TFL (5) and pass deflections (7) along with 1.0 sack and his 2nd career interception.
Reaves Part of Viral Video After Pro Bowl Nod
Reaves, a Pensacola, Florida, native, went undrafted out of South Alabama in 2018 after being named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was released in training camp before landing with Washington, where he’s been for his entire career.
In 2022, Reaves was part of a video that went viral showing former Washington head coach Ron Rivera informing Reaves he’d made the Pro Bowl for the first time — the same year he made first team NFL All-Pro.
Few players in the NFL can compare to the absolute menace Reaves has been on special teams throughout his career. In 81 career games he has 219 tackles, including an incredible 135 solo tackles. That includes a career-high 374 special teams snaps in 2022 and 271 special teams snaps in 2024 followed by a career-high 936 snaps across special teams and defense in 2025.
Marriage Proposal Went Viral in 2024
Reaves had a moment that went viral in the 2024 season when he got down on 1 knee and proposed to his girlfriend following an overtime home win over the Atlanta Falcons that clinched a playoff spot for the Commanders.
It came just moments after Zach Ertz caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels.
“Heartwarming: Shortly after the#Commanders clinched the playoffs, Safety Jeremy Reaves proposed to his girlfriend, Mikaela Worley,” Dov Kleiman wrote on his official X account, along with a video of the moment.
Reaves and Worley were surrounded by teammates during and after the proposal, with another video from NBC Sports’ JP Finlay showing punter Tress Way chasing Reaves and Worley down in the tunnel to congratulate them.
NBC play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico broke the news of the engagement live on-air.
“Reaves played 22 snaps tonight on special teams,” Tirico said. “And of course she said ‘Yes,’ you’re headed to the playoffs!”