Reggie Barlow
Encyclopedia
Reggie Barlow is currently the head coach
of the Alabama State Hornets
football
team. He is a former professional American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
. He played eight years in the league, five for the Jacksonville Jaguars
, and two for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
where he won a Super Bowl ring
for Super Bowl XXXVII
and one offseason on the Oakland Raiders
roster. He was used as a secondary wide receiver and punt returner
. In 1997
, he led the NFL in punt return yards with 555 yards on 43 returns.
by the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was the kickoff to a successful professional career.
In 1998, Barlow led the NFL in punt return yardage, with 43 returns for 555 yards and a touchdown and was named a Pro Bowl alternate. He still ranks among the Jaguars’ career leaders for most punt returns (79), most punt return yards (967), and average per return (12.2), as well as among the single-season record holders for most punt returns (55 in 1998), most punt return yards (555 in 1998) and average per return (12.9) in 1998. After five years in Jacksonville, Barlow joined the Oakland Raiders. In 2002, Barlow began his two-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he would help them win a championship in Super Bowl XXXVII. Tampa Bay defeated the Oakland Raiders
48-21 in a game that is often referred to as the "Gruden Bowl."
Barlow ended his NFL career with only 39 receptions for 522 yards and 1 TD. However, his major contributions were made on kickoff/punt returns. Barlow returned 80 career kickoffs for 1,855 yards and 1 TD. Meanwhile he returned 158 punts for 1639 yards and 2 TDs.
He would put that information and experience to good use when he joined the Alabama State University football staff as quarterbacks coach in 2005. In his first season, Barlow served as mentor and tutor to future NFL second-round draftee Tarvaris Jackson – currently a quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks.
In 2006, Barlow worked with a trio of quarterbacks without a single snap of college football experience between them. Under Barlow’s tutelage, Alex Engram would earn a Southwestern Athletic Conference
(SWAC) Newcomer of the Week award and finish eighth in the conference in total offense.
After that season, Barlow was named interim head coach. Just a few weeks later, the interim title was removed and Barlow’s dream was realized.
Barlow took over as head coach in 2007 and has compiled an overall record of 19-26. In 2010, the Hornets went 7-5, claimed their fourth outright SWAC Eastern Divisional title and made their third trip to the league's championship game in eight seasons.
Barlow turned down an offer from then-Denver Head Coach Mike Shanahan
in 2007 to be an assistant for the Broncos
. He repeated his action in 2011 by turning down an offer made by San Francisco 49ers
coach Jim Harbaugh
.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Alabama State Hornets
Alabama State University
Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- History :...
football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team. He is a former professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played eight years in the league, five for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and two for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
where he won a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
for Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
and one offseason on the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
roster. He was used as a secondary wide receiver and punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
. In 1997
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
, he led the NFL in punt return yards with 555 yards on 43 returns.
College career
A record-breaking receiver and kick returner, Barlow was recruited to Alabama State University by legendary coach Houston Markham. During his senior year at ASU, Barlow caught 58 passes for 1,267 yards. The Montgomery native and Sidney Lanier High School standout finished his collegiate career with 133 catches and 2,536 yards.Professional career
Barlow was selected in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL draft1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
by the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was the kickoff to a successful professional career.
In 1998, Barlow led the NFL in punt return yardage, with 43 returns for 555 yards and a touchdown and was named a Pro Bowl alternate. He still ranks among the Jaguars’ career leaders for most punt returns (79), most punt return yards (967), and average per return (12.2), as well as among the single-season record holders for most punt returns (55 in 1998), most punt return yards (555 in 1998) and average per return (12.9) in 1998. After five years in Jacksonville, Barlow joined the Oakland Raiders. In 2002, Barlow began his two-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he would help them win a championship in Super Bowl XXXVII. Tampa Bay defeated the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
48-21 in a game that is often referred to as the "Gruden Bowl."
Barlow ended his NFL career with only 39 receptions for 522 yards and 1 TD. However, his major contributions were made on kickoff/punt returns. Barlow returned 80 career kickoffs for 1,855 yards and 1 TD. Meanwhile he returned 158 punts for 1639 yards and 2 TDs.
Coaching career
Even at the height of his success, the idea of coaching was never far from Barlow’s mind. Throughout his career, he collected tips, ideas and habits of his coaches, going so far as to record them in a notebook.He would put that information and experience to good use when he joined the Alabama State University football staff as quarterbacks coach in 2005. In his first season, Barlow served as mentor and tutor to future NFL second-round draftee Tarvaris Jackson – currently a quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks.
In 2006, Barlow worked with a trio of quarterbacks without a single snap of college football experience between them. Under Barlow’s tutelage, Alex Engram would earn a Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
(SWAC) Newcomer of the Week award and finish eighth in the conference in total offense.
After that season, Barlow was named interim head coach. Just a few weeks later, the interim title was removed and Barlow’s dream was realized.
Barlow took over as head coach in 2007 and has compiled an overall record of 19-26. In 2010, the Hornets went 7-5, claimed their fourth outright SWAC Eastern Divisional title and made their third trip to the league's championship game in eight seasons.
Barlow turned down an offer from then-Denver Head Coach Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
in 2007 to be an assistant for the Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He repeated his action in 2011 by turning down an offer made by San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
coach Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...
.