Inducted in College Football Hall of Fame, 1996 Reasons is the only three-time All-American in nine decades of football at Northwestern State University. His jersey was the third of four retired by the school, along with two-time All-Americans Al Dodd and Joe Delaney and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jackie Smith. He became the first player in Division I-AA history to win All-America honors in three successive seasons after his senior year in 1983. Reasons set a school record with 24 tackles vs. McNeese State in the opening game of his senior year. He capped his Demon career with school records for tackles in a season (172) and career (394) and was an honors graduate in business administration in 1984. A college teammate of future pro standouts Delaney, Bobby Hebert and Mark Duper, Reasons was chosen by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL Draft and made the NFL’s All-Rookie Team for the Giants that fall. He played nine seasons in the NFL, eight with the Giants, and won two Super Bowl championships, in 1986 (XXI) and 1991. He was the leading tackler for New York with six stops in the 1991 Super Bowl XXV win over Buffalo. Named to the “All-Madden Team” during his pro career, Reasons was part of one of the most storied linebacking corps in pro football history, starting alongside Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson. Reasons served on the NFL Players Association Executive Council and was the Giants’ NFLPA representative during his career. He has worked as a sideline reporter and analyst since 1994 for ABC and Fox Sports.
Career Statistics and Honors
Fumbles Tackles
Year Games Tackles Assists Total Recovered Int. BrUp For Loss
1980 11 41 17 58 -- -- 2 --
1981 9 53 33 86 2 3 2 12
1982 11 38 40 78 -- -- 2 6
1983 11 94 78 172 -- 2 4 4
Totals 42 226 168 394 2 5 10 22
TOP HONORS
1981--Kodak/AFCA Division I-AA first team All-American, only sophomore on the team
All-Louisiana First team linebacker, selected by Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Honored by NSU team as Demon Award winner for linebackers.
1982--Kodak/AFCA Division I-AA first team All-American for second straight season
All-Louisiana first team linebacker on LSWA team
1983--Kodak/AFCA Division I-AA first team All-American for third straight season, first I-AA player to be named to that team for three straight seasons. Associated Press I-AA second team All-American All-Louisiana Defensive MVP by LSWA and by New Orleans Times/Picayune Named by NSU team as Most Valuable Defensive player and Permanent Team Captain
1984--No. 34 Jersey was the NSU's third retired jersey
