Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker John Reger, who starred for the Steelers and Washington Redskins in the 1950s and 60s, died Thursday in Tampa. He was 82.
Reger’s daughter Kathy confirmed his death Saturday in an email to the Associated Press.
A native of Wheeling, W.Va., Reger played collegiately at Pittsburgh and made the Steelers as an undrafted rookie in 1955. He forged a 12-year career as one of the finer two-way players in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl from 1959-61.
He spent nine seasons with the Steelers from 1955-63 before spending three with the Redskins.
Reger intercepted 15 passes during his career, including three each in 1964 and 1966 while playing for Washington. He retired at the end of the 1966 season with 20 career fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns.
1 Comment
Leave a Reply
Show Your Team Spirit
Get Your Steelers Tickets
Steelers Gab Newsletter
Sign up to receive our Steelers Gab newsletter, and keep up to date with all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news.
TM
September 22, 2013 at 12:39 pm
I had the pleasure of getting to know John Reger over the course of many years. He was a fine man, an exemplery professional and role model to children and adults whereever he went. John was as rugged and competetive as they come on the football field but was as honest and kind a man as you will ever find off the field. He will be greatly missed by those who he touched over the years and he deserves the NFL’s recognition for his accomplishments over the course of his career. John played in the NFL at a time when player safety was nothing more than an after-thought. Few people will probably ever know this but due to a near tragic on-field incident that involved John, the NFL adopted a mandate for the first time that oxygen be kept on the sideline.
May John rest in peace!