Former Bills Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Reed will the Legend of the Game for Buffalo's home season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Sept. 8.
The wide receiver spent 15 of his 16-year NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, catching 13,095 yards and 86 touchdowns during his tenure as a Bill from 1985-99, appearing in the Super Bowl four times from 1991-94 and attaining second-team All-Pro honors twice in 1989-90 along with Pro Bowl honors seven consecutive times from 1988-94.
"I was Legend of the Game last year," Reed said. "The home opener, it's different. Everybody's excited for the new season. It's just good to be back."
Reed knows Bills Mafia will show up and show out to watch their team in the home opener.
"One thing about Buffalo, they're going to come regardless," Reed said. "They love the game, they love to love the Buffalo Bills. But going back and feeling excitement, memories, remembering what it was like, just supporting the organization and have some fun."
Reed is excited about what the Bills can look like this season, saying that the team is flying under the radar.
"I feel Sean McDermott has done a great job," Reed said. "I think this is going to be a team effort. I mean the quarterback position is important, but he needs players help him out. I think this is going to be their best year. It's going to take a full team organizational effort for them to win. It starts Sunday."
Reed also has an affinity for rookie WR Keon Coleman and thinks that when he figures out the NFL game and gets his opportunities that he will surprise a lot of people.
"I think he's going to surprise a lot of people," Reed said. "To talk to him a little bit briefly in the offseason at the Rookie Premiere in L.A. and we didn't get into too much other than, 'Play Like you know how.'"
The former Bills fourth round pick has been able to reflect on his time playing for the Bills and having the career that he did. Reed remains at the top of the list for Bills receivers in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns.
What Reed remembers most is being given the opportunity to play and play at a high level with great, Hall of Fame players including Thurman Thomas.
"You know the opportunity to be part of the Bills organization," Reed shared. "I got a lot around me, coaches and you know, it doesn't hurt that you have Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly, Steve Tasker. We had every position pretty much offensively."
In the 10 years since his Hall of Fame induction, Reed says that he is forever grateful for that honor to be recognized as one of the greatest to ever do it.
"I could have been on 31 other teams, but I landed in a place like Buffalo, and obviously it was where I needed to be," Reed said.
It's that time of year again. Check out these 'back to school' style photos as the Bills prepare to begin the 2024 regular season this week. This gallery is presented by St. Bonaventure.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills practice, August 15, 2024 at Acrisure Stadium
In 2010, Reed established the Andre Reed Foundation to "help underprivileged children reach their full potential and become responsible contributors to their communities," according to their website.
Reed recently made a guest appearance at a Nike Football Camp in Southern California in conjunction with the Andre Reed Foundation. He said that he wants to invest in the next generation because someone had invested in him.
"Somebody invested energy into me," Reed said. "I think it's really my job to invest, to see the next generation come up. It's better than any touchdown, it's better than any catch."
Reed will join Bills Mafia in rooting on the Bills as they take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 1 p.m.
