Austin Reed Bio
Austin Reed (born February 22, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback who plays in the National Football League. He played college football for the Southern Illinois Salukis, West Florida Argonauts, and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers before signing with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 214 pounds, Reed began his professional career after a productive college run that included a national championship at the Division II level.
Reed has been listed on the Chicago Bears roster since 2024, working through preseason appearances, a practice squad stint, and a reserve contract. He is recognized for his strong arm and productive passing numbers at the collegiate level, which helped him transition to the NFL despite going undrafted.
Early Life and Background
Austin Reed was born on February 22, 2000, in St. Augustine, Florida, and grew up in nearby St. Augustine Beach. He attended St. Augustine High School, where he developed as a quarterback before taking his game to the college level. His early life in the coastal Northeast Florida community helped shape his foundation as a passer who grew up playing in a region with a long football tradition.
Reed’s path from high school to college included multiple stops, reflecting the common modern journey of a quarterback who used the transfer portal to find the right fit. His move between programs gave him a range of experiences at the Division I FCS, Division II, and FBS levels.
Path to American Football
Reed began his college football career at Southern Illinois, where he played for the Southern Illinois Salukis. The early stage of his college career allowed him to adjust to the speed and complexity of Division I football while building the fundamentals needed to compete at higher levels.
He transferred to the University of West Florida in the summer of 2019, joining the West Florida Argonauts of NCAA Division II. With West Florida, Reed led the 2019 Argonauts football team to the NCAA Division II national championship, throwing for 4,084 yards with 40 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during the championship season. In July 2021, Reed signed the first Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) sponsorship in West Florida history, partnering with the Running Wild chain of running stores. He later entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed in March 2022 to Western Kentucky, where he was named the team’s starting quarterback during summer camp in August 2022.
Austin Reed Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Reed’s earliest college playing time came with the Southern Illinois Salukis, where he learned the rhythms of the college game. That experience set the stage for his move to West Florida, where his role quickly expanded into a featured position.
At West Florida in 2019, Reed led the Argonauts to the NCAA Division II national championship. His statistical output that season, including 4,084 passing yards and 40 touchdowns, marked him as one of the most productive passers in the division and helped establish his reputation as a high-volume, downfield passer.
Western Kentucky Breakthrough (2022–2023)
After the 2021 season, Reed transferred to Western Kentucky and won the starting quarterback job during preseason camp in 2022. In his first game as a Hilltopper, he threw four touchdown passes in a 38–28 victory over Austin Peay, signaling a fast start to his FBS career.
During the 2022 season, Reed passed for 4,744 yards, a total that led all college football quarterbacks that year. His production earned him Conference USA Newcomer of the Year honors and a spot on the Second-team All-C-USA. On January 6, 2024, Reed announced that he would enter the 2024 NFL draft, closing his college career at Western Kentucky.
Chicago Bears Era (2024–Present)
Reed went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. During the 2024 preseason, he completed 12 of 16 passes for 123 yards and one touchdown, finishing with a passer rating of 117.4.
On August 27, 2024, the Bears waived Reed, and he signed to the team’s practice squad the next day. He signed a reserve/future contract with Chicago on January 6, 2025. On August 25, 2025, Reed was waived by the Bears as the team shaped its roster. Throughout his time in Chicago, Reed has worked within the Bears’ quarterback room while continuing to develop as a professional passer.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reed is known as a strong-armed passer with the ability to push the ball downfield, a skill he showcased during his record-setting 2022 season at Western Kentucky. His college production, including 40 touchdown passes during West Florida’s 2019 championship run and a conference-leading yardage total in 2022, reflects a quarterback comfortable airing out the football. His experience moving between Division I and Division II programs also points to a player who adapts quickly to different offensive systems.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Reed’s career include leading West Florida to the 2019 NCAA Division II national championship, leading all college quarterbacks with 4,744 passing yards in 2022, and earning Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and Second-team All-C-USA honors that same season. He also signed the first NIL deal in West Florida history in 2021, a notable milestone in the early NIL era of college athletics.
Austin Reed Career Wins
Austin Reed’s competitive résumé is anchored by team and individual achievements rather than a long list of professional game victories, given that his NFL opportunities have primarily come on the practice squad and through short stints on the active roster. His most celebrated win remains the 2019 NCAA Division II national championship with West Florida.
Western Kentucky Highlights
At Western Kentucky, Reed’s 2022 debut against Austin Peay produced four touchdown passes in a 38–28 victory, a strong first impression in his FBS career. His season totals, including a 4,744-yard passing output, helped him earn Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and Second-team All-C-USA recognition. The Hilltoppers featured one of the most productive passing attacks in college football that season, with Reed serving as the central figure.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his FBS production, Reed’s 2019 national title run with West Florida stands as his signature team accomplishment. His 40-touchdown, 4,084-yard passing performance that year helped anchor the Argonauts’ championship. Earlier, his start at Southern Illinois gave him the foundation needed to thrive once he transferred.
Austin Reed Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Austin Reed’s family is limited, and detailed details about his parents or broader family lineage are not widely available. He grew up in St. Augustine Beach, Florida, where he attended St. Augustine High School before launching his college career.
Personal Life
Austin Reed has kept much of his personal life private, and verified public information about a spouse or children is not available. He maintains an active presence on social media, including an Instagram account tied to his name. His residence since turning professional has been tied to his NFL commitments with the Chicago Bears.
2025 Season Performance
Reed’s 2025 outlook with the Chicago Bears began with a reserve/future contract signed on January 6, 2025, providing him another opportunity to compete for a roster spot. The contract reflected the Bears’ continued interest in developing the young quarterback after his preseason work the previous year.
On August 25, 2025, the Bears waived Reed as part of their roster construction ahead of the regular season. The move came as Chicago evaluated its quarterback depth chart heading into the 2025 campaign. Reed’s practice squad and reserve contract history with the team positioned him as a developmental option within the organization.
Looking ahead, Reed’s experience across Division I and Division II programs, combined with his preseason passing work for the Bears, leaves him as a candidate to pursue additional NFL opportunities. His 2022 passing production and Conference USA recognition remain the foundation of his professional profile as he continues to pursue a long-term role in the league.