Andre Reed
A sure-handed wide receiver whose clutch catches and relentless yards after contact were the engine of the Buffalo Bills' record-setting offense.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American football player·Birthday: January 29·Baby Boomers
Biography
Andre Reed didn't look like a typical NFL star coming out of tiny Kutztown University, but he played with a ferocity that defined an era in Buffalo. Drafted in the fourth round by the Bills, he quickly became Jim Kelly's most trusted target in the no-huddle, hurry-up 'K-Gun' offense. Reed's game was built on toughness; he was a master of the slant route, absorbing brutal hits over the middle and consistently fighting for extra yards. His synergy with Kelly was the rhythmic heartbeat of a team that reached four consecutive Super Bowls. While those championship games ended in defeat, Reed's performances were often brilliant, particularly his 11-catch, three-touchdown effort in the historic comeback against Houston in the 1992 playoffs. His consistency—racking up over 13,000 receiving yards—and his role in one of football's most potent attacks cemented his place in the Hall of Fame.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Andre was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andre Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Andre's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded 951 receptions for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns over a 16-season NFL career, primarily with the Buffalo Bills.
- Played a central role in the Bills' four consecutive AFC Championships and Super Bowl appearances from 1990 to 1993.
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014, his first year of eligibility.
- Held the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with 50 or more receptions (12) at the time of his retirement.
Did You Know?
He played quarterback, running back, and wide receiver at Kutztown University, a Division II school.
His 13,198 career receiving yards ranked third in NFL history at the time of his retirement.
He is one of only four players in NFL history to lead his team in receptions for 10 consecutive seasons.
His younger brother, Dion Reed, was a running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.
“You have to have that mentality that you're not going to be denied, no matter what the situation is.”
