Gary Reasons

Gary Reasons was born on February 18, 1962, in Chicago, IL, and grew up in Crowley, Texas. He attended Crowley High School, where he excelled in multiple sports, earning 13 varsity letters between 1976 and 1980. His collegiate career began at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he played as a linebacker for the Northwestern State Demons football team from 1980 to 1983. During his time there, Reasons set institutional records with 24 tackles in a single game, 172 tackles in a season, and 394 career tackles. He achieved the distinction of being the first player to be named to the Division I-AA All-America team by the Football Coaches Association three consecutive times.

Reasons’ professional football career began when he was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round (105th overall pick) of the 1984 NFL Draft. He played for the Giants for eight seasons, from 1984 to 1991, appearing in 122 games with 80 starts. During his tenure with the Giants, he contributed to two Super Bowl victories: Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV. A notable moment in his career occurred in December 1989, when he made a critical diving tackle against Bobby Humphrey, helping the Giants secure a win and advance to the playoffs. In the 1990 NFC Championship Game, Reasons executed a 30-yard run on a fake punt, a play that was instrumental in the Giants’ 15-13 victory, paving the way to Super Bowl XXV.

After his time with the Giants, Reasons signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in September 1992, playing 12 games, including nine starts, before retiring from professional football in 1992. Throughout his nine-season NFL career, he amassed 10 interceptions, 137 interception return yards, nine fumble recoveries, and 3.5 sacks across 134 games. Following his playing career, Reasons transitioned into a role as a college football television analyst and sideline reporter for networks such as ABC/ESPN and Fox Sports Southwest. He has also been honored with induction into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.