Eric Reid
A fierce and intelligent NFL safety who translated college stardom into Pro Bowl honors, while never hesitating to stand up for his convictions.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American football player·Birthday: December 10·Millennials
Biography
Eric Reid arrived in the NFL with the force of a missile and the mind of a strategist. A standout at LSU, where he was a consensus All-American, the Louisiana native was drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2013. He immediately solidified their secondary, forming a formidable safety tandem and earning a Pro Bowl selection in his second season. Reid's game was defined by explosive hits, sharp instincts, and a high football IQ. However, his career became inextricably linked with his activism. He was the first player to join Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality, a stance that he maintained with unwavering principle. This commitment arguably impacted his free agency, but he continued to play at a high level for the Carolina Panthers and later teams. Reid's legacy is dual-faceted: that of a top-tier defensive playmaker and a man who placed his beliefs squarely on the line, changing the conversation around athlete activism forever.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Eric was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
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
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected in the first round (18th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
- Earned a Pro Bowl selection following the 2013 season as a rookie standout.
- Was a consensus All-American in 2012 during his college career at LSU.
Did You Know?
He and his wife have a daughter named Leilani.
Reid graduated from LSU with a degree in petroleum engineering.
He was a track and field athlete in high school, competing in the hurdles and jumps.
“We’re just trying to hold America to the standard it says it is.”
