Washington Commanders General Manager Martin Mayhew received the list of the team’s Pro Bowl selections and alternates Tuesday and promptly shared it with Coach Ron Rivera, who planned to surprise his players and record their reactions. The result: an emotional video that went viral Wednesday evening after the NFL announced the rosters for the Pro Bowl Games.
get your tissues ready 🥹
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 22, 2022
watch @RiverboatRonHC tell the guys they made the Pro Bowl pic.twitter.com/7rpj99EIkZ
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, punter Tress Way and special teams player Jeremy Reaves were voted starters for the NFC, and wide receiver Terry McLaurin was selected as a reserve. Two other players — defensive linemen Daron Payne and Montez Sweat — were named alternates.
Rivera decided to inform the players, one by one, Wednesday afternoon following team meetings, and he set it up so the biggest surprise would come last.
“I figured it’d be a very poignant moment for Jeremy,” Rivera told reporters Thursday. “… I knew it would mean a lot for him.”
With the help of the Commanders’ in-house video team, a camera was placed in Rivera’s office to record the moment each player learned of his Pro Bowl selection. Rivera led each to believe he had bad news to share before quickly pivoting to congratulations. He surprised everyone but Allen.
McLaurin perked up when Rivera informed him that Reaves, an undrafted safety out of South Alabama, made it, too.
“He’s a difference-maker,” McLaurin told his coach.
Way teared up when he learned Reaves would join him at the Pro Bowl. They have become close over the past year, even creating a special handshake, and Way pleaded with Rivera to let him stay in his office as he shared the news. Rivera obliged.
“I thought I did something wrong,” Reaves said Thursday. “So I went in there and I was kind of, like, scared. … Usually when I’m getting called to the coach’s office, it’s a captains meeting or something you did.”
But then Rivera perked up, extended his hand and said: “Congratulations. You’re the Pro Bowl special teams guy. You’re the starter.”
After pausing in shock, Reaves broke down and hugged his coach, who told him he had earned the honor and thanked him for trusting him.
“Always, Coach,” Reaves responded. “I told you I’d run through a brick wall for you.”
Reaves, a safety, has bounced on and off Washington’s practice squad since his rookie year in 2018 and has become one of the most well-respected players in the locker room. He played sparingly on defense the past three seasons, typically joining the active roster late in the year when injuries depleted the secondary. But after an impressive showing in training camp in 2022, Reaves made the Commanders’ initial 53-man roster. Through Week 15, he leads the league with 15 special-teams tackles.
“He’s done the things guys that are not drafted should do,” Rivera said. “And I said this when I got here: ‘If you want to make an impression on me, do it on special teams.’ ... And he’s done that. He’s done more than that.”
Reaves said the Pro Bowl selection was “everything,” and to be selected alongside Way meant even more.
“He’s been here, obviously, since I’ve been here, and he’s kind of seen my story unfold,” Reaves said. “… To see his reaction is what got me, honestly. Just to see how happy he was for me in that moment, that was awesome. That’s my guy. I love him. I’d do anything for him.”
“Everything I’ve been through was just preparing me for this,” Reaves added. “It’s just the start.”
