Jalen Reagor Bio
Jalen Armand Reagor is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist. Born on January 2, 1999, in Waxahachie, Texas, he played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs before entering the National Football League. Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Reagor has also spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. Known for his speed and shiftiness in the return game, he has built a career split between receiver duties and work on special teams units across multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Jalen Armand Reagor was born on January 2, 1999, in Waxahachie, Texas, to Ishia Johnson and former NFL defensive end Montae Reagor. Growing up in Waxahachie, he attended Waxahachie High School, where he became a two-sport standout for the Indians. On the football field, he produced back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons under head coach and former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, and he was selected to play in the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game.
Reagor also carved out a successful track and field career at Waxahachie. His work in the jumping events peaked when he won a gold medal in the long jump at the 2017 Texas High School state meet. That combination of sprint speed and lower-body explosiveness gave him a clear athletic foundation heading into his college years and helped shape the return-game profile that would later define him at the professional level.
Path to American Football
Reagor enrolled at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, in the summer of 2017 and made his collegiate debut in the Horned Frogs’ season opener against Jackson State, catching two passes in a 63–0 victory. Two weeks later, he scored his first collegiate touchdown on a Hail Mary reception from quarterback Kenny Hill at the end of the first half against SMU. He finished his freshman season strong, scoring touchdowns in each of TCU’s last four games, including a win in the 2017 Alamo Bowl over Stanford and TCU’s first-ever appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game.
His freshman impact earned him Co-Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors, the first entry on his résumé of conference recognition. Prior to his sophomore season, Reagor switched to jersey number 1, the number he had worn at Waxahachie, and he became TCU’s go-to receiver during a year in which the Frogs used three different starting quarterbacks. He was the first TCU receiver to top 1,000 receiving yards since Josh Doctson, posted a streak of seven straight games with a receiving touchdown, and was named second-team All-Big 12. After his 2019 season, in which he recorded 43 receptions for 611 yards, Reagor declared for the 2020 NFL Draft and forwent his final year of college eligibility.
Jalen Reagor Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Reagor’s developmental years at TCU gave him a steady climb from freshman contributor to featured receiver. By his sophomore season, he had moved into a true number-one role, evidenced by his 1,000-yard season and his seven-game receiving touchdown streak. That stretch also included a win over Oklahoma State in which he recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game, totaling 233 all-purpose yards with 121 rushing, 91 receiving, and 21 on kickoff returns.
In his junior year, Reagor continued to operate as TCU’s top target while drawing extra defensive attention. His decision to enter the 2020 NFL Draft after the 2019 campaign marked the end of a college arc that included Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2017 and two consecutive second-team All-Big 12 selections in 2018 and 2019. That three-year body of work was enough to push him into the first round of the NFL Draft.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2020–2021)
Reagor was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, becoming the first wide receiver drafted in the first round from TCU since Josh Doctson in 2016. On July 20, 2020, he signed a four-year, 13.3 million dollar contract that included a fifth-year team option. A shoulder injury slowed him early in training camp, but he was ready for Week 1 and made his NFL debut against the Washington Football Team on September 13, 2020, finishing with one reception for 55 yards.
Reagor recorded his first career touchdown reception in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football during a 23–9 Eagles win. In Week 13 against the Green Bay Packers, he added his first career punt return touchdown on a 73-yard score, and he finished his rookie season with 31 receptions for 396 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. In 2021, Reagor played 17 games with 13 starts and recorded 33 receptions for 299 yards and two receiving touchdowns, though a late-season drop against the New York Giants and two muffed punts in the Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dimmed his second year.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2022)
On August 31, 2022, Reagor was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the Houston Texans’ 2023 seventh-round pick and a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick that could have become a fourth had he hit certain production thresholds. After the trade, he changed his jersey number to 5, posting on social media that the figure symbolized spiritual growth, self-confidence, freedom, curiosity, and change. His role in Minnesota was modest, as he finished the 2022 season with eight receptions for 104 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, and he was waived on August 30, 2023.
New England Patriots Era (2023–2024)
Reagor signed with the New England Patriots practice squad on August 31, 2023, and was promoted to the active roster on October 26, 2023. In Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills, he returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, the first kick return touchdown of his NFL career. He re-signed with New England on March 13, 2024, but was released on August 28, 2024, briefly re-signed to the practice squad, and released again on September 17, 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2024–Present)
On September 24, 2024, Reagor signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad and was promoted to the active roster on November 6, 2024. On March 12, 2025, he re-signed with the Chargers on a one-year contract, was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released on September 10 with an injury settlement, re-signed to the practice squad on October 7, and released again on October 18.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reagor is at his best when he can pair track-and-field speed with open-field vision, which is why his punt and kickoff returns have produced some of his most memorable NFL moments. As a receiver, he thrives on quick-hitting routes and jet motion that allow him to use his acceleration before contact, while his background under coach Jon Kitna helped him develop a reliable catching base. His special teams value has often kept him on a roster even when his offensive role has fluctuated from year to year.
Notable Events and Milestones
Reagor’s most celebrated individual moments include his 73-yard punt return touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in 2020 and his 98-yard kick return touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in 2023, both firsts of their kind in his career. He also reached the 1,000-yard receiving mark at TCU in 2018, the first Horned Frogs receiver to do so since Josh Doctson, and he became a first-round NFL Draft pick, the first TCU wide receiver taken in round one since Doctson.
Jalen Reagor Career Wins
Jalen Armand Reagor’s career has featured individual awards and team milestones rather than a long list of championships. His most prominent honors came at TCU, where he was named Co-Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2017 and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in both 2018 and 2019. He also helped TCU reach its first Big 12 Championship Game and win the 2017 Alamo Bowl over Stanford.
College and Professional Highlights
At Waxahachie High School, Reagor was a back-to-back 1,000-yard receiver, an Under Armour All-American in 2017, and a Texas high school state gold medalist in the long jump. At TCU, he was a three-year contributor who reached 1,000 receiving yards in 2018 and produced a seven-game receiving touchdown streak. In the NFL, his most visible milestones have come in the return game, with a 73-yard punt return score in 2020 and a 98-yard kick return score in 2023.
Other Wins & Performances
Reagor was a state champion in the long jump and an Under Armour All-American in high school, and he added a 2017 Alamo Bowl victory at TCU. His 2018 win over Oklahoma State featured his first career 100-yard rushing game, underscoring his ability to impact a game from multiple positions.
Jalen Reagor Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Reagor’s football roots run deep on both sides of his family. His father, Montae Reagor, played defensive end in the NFL, giving Jalen an early blueprint for what a professional football career looks like. His mother, Ishia Johnson, raised him in Waxahachie, Texas, where he attended Waxahachie High School.
Personal Life
Reagor is the son of Montae Reagor and Ishia Johnson. Public details about a spouse or children have not been confirmed in verified sources. His connection to Waxahachie and his family has remained a consistent backdrop to his career, with his father’s NFL background often cited as a major influence on his path into professional football.
2025 Season Performance
Reagor’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad and active roster. After re-signing with the Chargers on a one-year contract on March 12, 2025, he was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released on September 10 with an injury settlement, re-signed to the practice squad on October 7, and released again on October 18.
That carousel of moves underscores his current role as a depth and special teams asset rather than an offensive focal point. With the Chargers, his responsibilities have centered on return-game reps and emergency receiver depth, areas where his track speed and return experience still offer clear value.
Heading into the latter half of 2025, Reagor’s outlook depends largely on staying healthy and finding a stable roster home. Given his prior production as a return man and his experience in multiple offensive systems, he remains a viable practice squad option with the upside of earning another late-season promotion if injuries create an opening.