Riley Reiff

BIOGRAPHY

American professional football offensive tackle, Riley Reiff, is regarded as a giants in his field. Born on December 1, 1988 to parents Jo and Tom Reiff, he grew up in the town of Parkston, South Dakota. Reiff displayed a significant amount of promise, even from his high school years at Parkston High School, under the guidance of head coach, Jon Mitchel.

His early accolades included being a two-time South Dakota Elite 45 team selection, receiving first-team All-State honors as a defensive end during his sophomore and junior years, and replicating this feat as a tight end during his senior years. A two-way player for the Trojans, he showed vast prowess on both sides of the ball. Reiff racked up 261 total tackles, 23 sacks, and eight interceptions on defense. On offense, he caught 27 passes for 321 yards and added nine touchdowns. Beyond his gridiron feats, he shined in other sporting domains. He lettered in golf, was an accomplished track and field thrower, and claimed three state titles as a wrestling champion.

The three-star defensive end prospect captivated many, ranking 28th nationally among senior strongside defensive ends. Reiff’s audacious performance caught the attention of Iowa assistant coach Reese Morgan. His commitment to the Iowa Hawkeyes was a result of the coach’s persistence in 2007, renege of his commitment to Nebraska, and reaffirming his pact with the Hawkeyes after witnessing the downturn that affected the Cornhuskers.

Reiff redshirted his initial year at Iowa, but quickly made his mark starting in 11 of 13 games in different positions on the Hawkeyes’ offensive line. In his sophomore year, he ascended to the role of left tackle, a position solidified in his junior year. By the end of the 2011 season, Reiff had received a plethora of recognition, including being named preseason All-American and All-Big Ten by coaches and media. A few days after a disappointing loss in the 2011 Insight Bowl, Reiff announced his decision to forgo his final year of eligibility at Iowa, opting to enter the 2012 NFL draft.

Entering the draft Reiff was already projected as a potential first-round pick. Despite concerns regarding his arm length being short for a professional left tackle, he was still selected by the Detroit Lions as the 23rd overall pick. In his rookie year, Reiff was mostly stationed as a blocking tight end or an H-back, which culminated in him being voted the Mel Farr Rookie of the Year by his peers.

The following year after the retirement of Jeff Backus, Reiff inherited the role of left tackle. That year, he started all 16 games in that role and solidified his presence in the Lions’ offensive line. He maintained his position at left tackle for the most part of his tenure with the Lions. His consistent performance triggered the Lions to pick up the fifth-year option of his contract in 2015.

In March 2017, Reiff signed with the Minnesota Vikings. His sturdy contribution to the Vikings’ offensive line had to come to a halt when he tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2020. The Vikings released him afterward in March 2021.

Reiff’s next journey led him to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he started as their right tackle for the 2021 season. Shortly after, he was placed on injured reserve due to injury; and then signed with the Chicago Bears in July 2022, and eventually landed on the New England Patriots roster in March 2023. However, his stint with the team was marred by knee injury, which saw him in and out on injured reserve.

Before joining NFL, Reiff was a lifelong fan of the Oakland Raiders. His fraternal affiliation to football extended to his younger brother, Brady Reiff, who followed in his footsteps and also played for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2015 to 2019. Today, Riley Reiff remains a free agent but his contribution to both college and professional football remains indelible.