{"id":44206,"date":"2018-06-03T18:56:25","date_gmt":"2018-06-03T22:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=44206"},"modified":"2021-03-13T12:31:09","modified_gmt":"2021-03-13T17:31:09","slug":"chris-reis-pastor-amongst-saints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/06\/03\/chris-reis-pastor-amongst-saints\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Reis: A Pastor Amongst Saints"},"content":{"rendered":"

63 seconds may not seem like a long time. You certainly couldn\u2019t walk around the block that quickly. You can\u2019t brush your teeth in that short amount of time, or at least you shouldn\u2019t. That may even be more time than it takes you to bring in the trash cans from the curb after pickup. While 63 seconds can go by in a flash for most, as the recipient of the \u201cAmbush\u201d onside kick of Super Bowl XLIV, former New Orleans Saints<\/a> safety and special teamer Chris Reis<\/a><\/strong> knows that duration of time can feel like an eternity. In just over a minute, a combination of his natural ability, work ethic, instincts, and faith were all tested in the gutsiest play in Super Bowl history. Reis passed.<\/p>\n

An Exclusive Interview With Chris Reis, One of the Heroes of Super Bowl XLIV<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Before we jump right into the most memorable moment of Chris Reis\u2019 NFL career, we need to understand the road that got him there. For Reis, success in sports started early. The Georgia native began demonstrating his athleticism on the baseball diamond.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was seven, I was terrible,” Reis recalled. “I think I hit one foul ball the whole year. I just could not hit the ball. I couldn\u2019t throw. I was just awkward. Then, all of the sudden, one year later at eight, I go in there and I\u2019m just crushing home runs left and right. I still hold the record for the rec league I played at for most home runs in a season by an eight-year-old.”<\/p>\n

By the time he hit the eighth grade, Reis hit a growth spurt and reached his current height of 6\u20191″. Along with that added height came the speed that really set him apart from his peers.<\/p>\n

Honing all that raw talent was a series of mentors and coaches that worried as much about Chris Reis, the kid as Chris Reis, the athlete.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been blessed with coaches that have really looked out for my well being, physically, emotionally and spiritually and I really appreciated that,” Reis explained. “When I was younger, I had a coach that invested in my brother as well as me. His name was Dennis Blackstone<\/strong>. Just a local coach that\u2019s one of my mom\u2019s friends that really poured into me, he helped develop me and really took a liking to me and my family. I\u2019ve had coaches all the way from high school that have really poured into me on a lot of different levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Considering that Reis never really had any idols that he looked up to in the NFL, these coaches and mentor really helped shape the man he was becoming, both on and off the field.<\/p>\n

Was It Always Defense?<\/h2>\n

Reis spent most of his earlier football days on the offensive side of the ball, primarily at wide receiver.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, defense really didn\u2019t become big until probably college,” he noted. “I did well in high school when it came to wide receiver. I played a little quarterback, a little running back but I was a wide receiver. I still hold all the records at my high school for receiving.”<\/p>\n

But somewhere between Roswell High School and Georgia Tech, both he and his coaches had a modified plan for Reis.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, one of the big things I loved to do was hit,” Reis emphasized. “I wanted to be the hammer and not the nail. For me, that kind of led me over to the defensive side of the ball, my aggressiveness. I wasn\u2019t super-fast but I had good hands and could run pretty good routes. But when college coaches see that I\u2019m not that tall and I\u2019m a white guy with average speed, they\u2019re thinking, \u2018Okay, maybe defensive side because of your aggression.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Beginning His NFL Career<\/h2>\n

Despite collecting a host of accolades on the college level, Reis went undrafted in 2006.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Falcons called and that was great,” he said. “It was my hometown. I grew up in Atlanta, GA. I went to Georgia Tech. So, it was a natural fit for me to go over there and to be an Atlanta Falcon at that time period. It really made sense. It really worked out starting my career there and it was just a good opportunity. I didn\u2019t know how long I would play.”<\/p>\n

After signing with Atlanta and playing in three preseason games as a Falcon, Reis recalled the unsettling news he received.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got cut the first cut after the third preseason game by the Falcons,” Reis stated. “I mean, I was cut early and I thought, \u2018My career is over.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

It was tough news to hear, but Reis wouldn\u2019t have to wait long for opportunity to come knocking again.<\/p>\n

Reis explained the transition from Falcon to Saint.<\/p>\n

“The Saints called me at the end of 2006 when they\u2019re making their run in the NFC Championship against the Bears,” he noted. “I think they lost in Chicago that year. And they said, \u2018Hey, we want to pick you up and send you over to NFL Europe for a year\u2019. So, I was over there and thought it was a great opportunity. I had just got married and went over there with my wife and spent three months. A lot of people don\u2019t know, but I played some amazing football, probably some of my best football I ever played. I made the All-World team, the last All-World team for NFL Europe. It was a lot of fun and gave me a lot of confidence. The Saints were really impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ambush<\/h2>\n

Reis would end up playing four seasons with the Saints, his final season with the team shortened due to a shoulder injury. While in New Orleans, Reis\u2019 role was primarily in special teams and the secondary. It goes without saying that his most memorable moment for Saints fans came in Super Bowl XLIV. Coming out of the locker room down 10-6 to Peyton Manning<\/a><\/strong> and the Indianapolis Colts<\/a>, head coach Sean Payton<\/a><\/strong> made the call, \u201cWe\u2019re gonna start this half kicking off, alright? Ambush! Let\u2019s go get this game.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what was the news like for Chris Reis?<\/p>\n

\u201cCoach Payton has earned the trust that he can make the calls and we were confident in his call as our commander in chief,” Reid emphasized. “I think it\u2019s one of those things where when you\u2019re in the heat of the moment where I don\u2019t think anyone questions the judgment of your leader because if you do, it\u2019s not going to turn out well. The call is already made. We might as well just run it. I don\u2019t remember being nervous. I was just nervous I was going to give it away. I didn\u2019t want to give away the surprise because I wasn\u2019t supposed to be part of the play. I was just a backup guy in case the ball popped out or if one of the Colts guys picked it up, I would have tackled him from running in, maybe saving the play there. I just wasn\u2019t supposed to be a part of that play. It was all on Roman and those guys over on that side.\u201d<\/p>\n

After all, why be nervous. When asked how many times the ball found its way to him during the practicing of this play, Reis replied, \u201cNever. It\u2019s practice though. It goes perfectly. Let\u2019s be honest. You draw up the play and it goes that way. I love Gregg Williams<\/strong> would say, \u2018It\u2019s got nothing to do with X\u2019s and O\u2019s.\u2019, and he said that to me after the recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n

And so, the most grueling 63 seconds in Saints fans lives did end up well as Reis made that recovery and the Saints would go on to win their first-ever Super Bowl. Reis\u2019 recovery of that onside kick was undoubtedly the turning point of the game and a moment that will be relived in Saints and NFL history forever. That recovered football was immediately sent to the NFL Hall of Fame and has been there ever since.<\/p>\n

Party With the Lombardi<\/h2>\n

As a Super Bowl champion, there are many experiences that come it. Whether it\u2019s kissing the Lombardi Trophy, standing under the confetti or meeting the president, there are an incredible amount of once-in-a-lifetime moments that get rolled into that victory. For Reis, there was one thing that stood out from the rest though.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat stood out to me the most was our parade, our championship parade or what we called our Lombardi-gras parade,” he said. “It was just way more than I expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reis would go on to recall his days as a child attending the Atlanta Braves championship parade and stated how different this was.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, I thought we\u2019d spend a couple hours, roll through on these floats and wave to everybody,” Reis recalled. “Well, what was supposed to take two hours took six hours to get through. And the reason it took so long is that people were climbing all over our floats. People were going nuts. A lot of times at Mardi Gras, they measure attendance by how deep the crowds are, typically two or three or four people deep. Well, they measured ours at six to eight to ten people deep. They said they had never seen something like this before. The whole town shut down. The floats were parked and shut down for a while so some guys hopped off and got some food. We were hungry. We weren\u2019t expecting to be there for six hours. We were signing autographs, people were crying and saying thank you. It was an unbelievable time with my teammates and with the city that we absolutely loved and fans that were absolutely amazing. It was such a great time. I will never forget that parade. It\u2019ll never be duplicated. Even if they win again, it won\u2019t be the same as that first one, especially following Katrina.\u201d<\/p>\n

You could hear the joy in Reis\u2019 voice as he recalled those memories.<\/p>\n

The Ring and the Team<\/h2>\n

Like anything nostalgic, a Super Bowl ring is much more valuable than the gold and diamonds of which it\u2019s composed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people look at it, they see all the diamonds and how big it is,” he described. “The thing is huge and heavy. It\u2019s actually real gold. But to me, what it represents is the camaraderie, the family that we build there, the blood, sweat, and tears that went into it. What stands behind that is I remember praying for Tracy Porter<\/a><\/strong> when we were playing the Rams and we thought he blew out his knee. All of the defensive backs got together after the game and prayed for him. We loved each other as a family. Those are the things that you just don\u2019t forget; that people don\u2019t know about or care about, but those are the things that that ring represents. If it got lost or stolen, I have insurance. I can replace it. But the memories can\u2019t be replaced.”<\/p>\n

Reis would go on to speak about his teammates and the camaraderie they had with each other. Reis spoke of their current relationships.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all keep in touch,” he emphasized. “A lot of us went back to the playoff game in New Orleans this past season and they wanted to honor the Super Bowl team. When we got back together, it\u2019s like we picked up where we left off. It\u2019s like it never changed. You know you have friends and family there when you can pick up where you left off with them. Most of these guys aren\u2019t playing anymore. Now they\u2019re fathers and business owners and they have so much going on and it\u2019s great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Best He Ever Played Against<\/h2>\n

When asked if he was ever in awe of anyone who ever lined up against him, Reis\u2019 answer was simple.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if I get star-struck like that,” he noted. “I\u2019m not saying that in a prideful or boastful way. I don\u2019t get star\u00a0struck, especially in competition settings. I want to beat that guy. I\u2019m going to outwork you, out-hustle you and do the little things to beat you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation then shifted to speak about who the best he ever played against. Reis didn\u2019t hesitate with his answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can easily answer that because I played with him in college and that\u2019s Calvin Johnson<\/a><\/strong>, Megatron,” Reis emphasized. “The guy is a freak of nature. I don\u2019t know how you can be 6\u20194\u201d and have a vertical of 46\u201d or 47\u201d. It\u2019s crazy to me. You can\u2019t defend that. I was a junior at Georgia Tech when he came in as a freshman. They said he made some crazy catches in the NFL. Man, he did that every day in practice. We already knew it. He really was a freak of nature. He\u2019s the nicest guy with crazy work ethic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reis went on to mention the rarity of a player with that skill level, size and work ethic and what a privilege and nightmare it was to play against him.<\/p>\n

A Cornerstone of Faith<\/h2>\n

Chris Reis, despite all of the accomplishments on the field and scholastically (Reis was on the ACC All-Academic Team in 2003, 2004 and 2005), never struggled to stay grounded. While an insatiable hunger to be better than his peers plays into it, Reis\u2019 faith has kept him humble.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy faith keeps me grounded,” Reis said. “God reminds me every day that He sent His son to die for me and if I stay close to God, He is going to humble me. The Bible says, \u2018Those who are humble will be exalted.'”<\/p>\n

Faith has always been a cornerstone of Reis\u2019 development as a man, as a player and now, as a pastor. And Reis believes God had a hand in that famous \u2018Ambush\u2019 play as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI fell on a football and I would have been a footnote in the NFL had this not happened,” Reis stated. “I\u2019m so blessed and so fortunate to have this happen. At the end of the day. I know I did my best and a lot of things had to go right for that to happen and God\u2019s hand was all over that.\u201d<\/p>\n

While it was obvious in the Saints locker room that Reis was a man of faith, he didn\u2019t view himself having any sort of designated leadership in that department.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never wanted to be a guy that was a Bible thumper saying, \u2018Do you know Jesus\u2019 or anything,\u201d Reis mentioned.<\/p>\n

Without trying, his demeanor stood out, especially in a locker room setting. Especially when you consider how he worked with new arrivals.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd there were times that I would help guys where people wouldn\u2019t necessarily help guys,” Reis recalled. “This guy is trying to steal my position, but I didn\u2019t care. I wanted to help him. I\u2019m not worried about my position. I\u2019m not worried about that stuff because I know at the end of the day, if I\u2019m supposed to be here, I\u2019ll be here. If I\u2019m not, I\u2019m not. But I\u2019m going to help this guy because there\u2019s something more at stake than my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

He then added, \u201cFor rookies coming in and veterans coming in that didn\u2019t know anyone, I wanted to be the first guy they would meet. I wanted to be like, \u2018Hey, can I serve you? Can I help you with anything?\u2019 That alone would just shock them, that I would want to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the NFL<\/h2>\n

So, considering the current climate of football and the growing concerns of sports-related injuries, would Reis support any of his four children playing football.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would,” he emphasized. “People ask me that more often than you think. I\u2019m okay with it. I think it\u2019s because I know the benefits of football. But I also know the risks. I know I\u2019m going to teach them the right way to hit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reis then added, \u201cNow, let me just say this. What age would I start them at? I\u2019m not 100 percent sure. I don\u2019t see a ton of value starting them out when they\u2019re super young playing contact football. I just don\u2019t see the benefits of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reis also mentioned how great the efforts of a former teammate have been to creating a less risky option for kids by stating, \u201cI love what Drew Brees<\/a> <\/strong>is doing with flag football in America. I think it\u2019s awesome what they\u2019re doing with flag football. They\u2019re learning skills that they would never learn anywhere else. They\u2019re learning the fundamentals and they\u2019re learning plays without the contact necessarily.\u201d<\/p>\n

As previously mentioned, Chris Reis is now a pastor at Our Savior\u2019s Church of Lafayette. He is married and has four children now. He and his wife were expecting their fifth when the unthinkable happened and they lost the baby. As a devastated father, trying to help a grieving wife and explain the loss to his four children would prove to be an incredibly tough task. Reis, consistent with so many other times in his life, turned to his faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how people make it without God in their life, without having purpose and drive,” Reis gently offered. “The great part about things like that is that it drives us closer to God.”<\/p>\n

To hear this moving story directly from Reis, watch the video below.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iAlHAb_OeUM<\/a><\/p>\n

Chris Reis, years removed from an NFL field, continues to be a source of inspiration. Despite being cut by the Falcons prior to seeing a regular season game, despite walking away from the game after a shoulder injury in his fourth season and despite the unthinkable loss of his unborn fifth child, Reis continues to move forward in faith, 63-seconds at a time.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>