The Washington Commanders have secured the heart of their special teams unit, agreeing to a reported 1-year contract extension with safety and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves. The move ensures that one of the franchise’s most inspiring “underdog” stories will continue in the DMV through 2027.
Reaves, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018, fought tooth and nail for his roster spot year after year. Cut and re-signed numerous times early in his career, he eventually transitioned from a fringe defensive back to a core special teams weapon; his relentless effort culminated in a breakout 2022 campaign where he earned First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection. He has established himself as a guided missile on kick and punt coverage, possessing an uncanny ability to shed blocks and make open-field tackles against return specialists.
Retaining Reaves is a significant statement for the new Commanders regime led by General Manager Adam Peters and Head Coach Dan Quinn. As they reshape the roster, prioritizing a player who embodies grit, high character, and selfless play helps set the cultural standard for the organization.
Furthermore, his versatility cannot be overlooked. While his primary value comes on the “third phase” of the game, Reaves has proven capable of stepping in at safety when injuries strike, providing the defense with a reliable, physical presence. This contract extension rewards a player who has earned every rep through sheer determination. For a fan base hungry for accountability and effort, keeping Jeremy Reaves is a win that resonates far beyond the salary cap sheet.
On Thursday, Reaves was in Ashburn to sign his new contract extension, and while he was there, took a few minutes to chat with the local sports media.
Reaves was predictably upbeat in his media session. He opened up talking about what his recent contract extension meant to him. At one point he described himself as ’an undrafted eighth-round pick’ and said, “I know how my career started and what it took to get to this point,” Reaves said, “so…I’m thankful for it.” He talked about his persistence, steadiness and self-belief early in his career and how it has paid off with what may be surprising career longevity. He stated, “I’m living proof that it can be done.”
At one point, he discussed “the lessons and the blessings” that come with the marathon of the NFL and life in general, adding that his message to anyone going though trying times would be, “You are enough; you have enough; you have what it takes; the belief starts with you…so don’t limit yourself or put yourself in a box.”
He added at one point that “falling and failing is actually was what made me have belief in myself because once I was cut…and cut again, and cut again, and worked myself back and…finally [made] the roster, that’s where belief starts to come in.” He went on to discuss the challenge of tearing his ACL in a contract year and then having to prove himself to a new coaching staff and front office as he worked to come back from the injury: “That’s where belief is forged.”
He expressed excitement about the offseason roster-building work he’s seen from Adam Peters, adding that he hopes to still be playing football in February.
Reaves said at one point, in talking about how he’s being treated now by the Commanders, the special teams ace said, “It’s the first time in my career where I’ve really felt wanted by an entire organization, top down. Coming off my ACL, they could’ve went any direction. For them to have that patience with me…you can’t ask for more.”
He talked for a moment about how special teams is often overlooked despite its importance to winning and losing. He said he’s grateful for the pivotal importance that the Commanders coaches put on special teams and the reliance and belief they have in him. He got passionate: “You guys all know; I live and die with this. I lay it on the line every week, and it’s not just for me; I want everyone else around me to succeed and to win, because I know how hard it is in this business and in life in general.”
Defensively, Reavo said that his meeting with Daronte Jones was very brief, adding that he found the new defensive coordinator to be ‘very direct’, ‘very stern’, and ‘very honest’. Reaves said that it was clear that Jones is “here to win”. Reaves went on to expand on his impressions from watching Jones’ press conference, saying how impressed he was by Jones’ commitment to individualized plans for each player and commenting that he believed Jones to be very detail-oriented.
Reaves said that, while the defense will be a bit different schematically, he understands that Jones likes violence, “and we have a lot of violent people in that room.” He stressed that every NFL team runs the same defensive concepts; he said that what will be unique for Washington’s defense in 2026 will be how it looks from the lens of the opposing quarterback.
The session turned more personal for a time as a question was proffered about Reaves’ then-upcoming wedding (the ceremony, officiated by Commanders punter Tress Way, takes/took place on Saturday, 21 March). Reavo was all smiles as he talked about the wedding and his relationship with Tress Way.
Asked about his role as a team leader, Reavo said that a great leader first has to know how to follow, giving credit to players that he followed early in his career. He also stressed the ability to connect with people from all backgrounds, saying, “I’m in the business of trying to make the next man or person next to me a little bit better, or make their day a little bit better than it was.” He said the key with teammates was taking the time needed to get to know the person rather than just the player; “That’s what makes me me; [it’s] a trait my mom gave me.” Leadership, he concluded, is best described as how you connect with people and how you can make people believe in themselves.
Asked about turning the page on 2025 and how he feels about the new players and new challenges ahead, Jeremy started by talking about the terrible taste in his mouth left from last season. He said that as someone who loves competing and winning, he’s eager to get back on the field, but stressed that “the standard gotta grow; we need more out of everybody because whatever we did last year wasn’t good enough.”