Reggie Pleasant: Coming full circle

Defensive back Reggie Pleasant in 1988 with the Toronto Argonauts.
Source: https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/98813/
cid/7483330/1988-JOGO-67-Reggie-Pleasant
(May be subject to copyright)

He may have been small in stature but he was mighty on the field, and even bigger in life after football.

He was one of the greatest defensive backs the Toronto Argonauts ever put on the field, but it was in his time after football, long after the interceptions, the big hits, the cheering crowds, and the accolades faded away, that he truly made his mark.

Such is the journey of Reggie Pleasant.

Tiger by the tail
It was a storied season in college football, one of the best of the decade, when the previously unheralded Clemson Tigers went undefeated in the regular season and, after a dramatic win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1982 Orange Bowl, won their first ever national championship.

According to Clemsontigers.com, Reggie Pleasant joined Clemson in 1981 as a walk-on defensive back, was an on-and-off starter in the secondary in 1982 and 1983 then started all 11 games in 1984. He had 56 tackles and 14 pass break-ups in 1984.

It was a team that sent a lot of guys to the pros, including Homer Jordan and Parry Tuttle who landed in the Canadian Football League.

Eventually, Reggie Pleasant would find his way north as well.

North to Toronto
He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1985 and, after bouncing around for two years, Reggie Pleasant landed in Toronto in 1987.

He was part of a secondary that also included Doran Major and Selwyn Drain who were small in stature, but still went toe to toe with receivers four, five and even six inches taller than them.

Pleasant had nine interceptions for 182 yards, 58 tackles and recovered two fumbles in 16 games in his first season in the CFL. He followed that up in 1988 with seven interceptions for 107 yards and a touchdown, and 61 tackles, in 18 games. He was named a CFL East and All-CFL All-star. He closed out the decade in 1989 with nine interceptions for 124 yards. He also had 52 tackles and recovered four fumbles, taking two in for touchdowns, in 17 games. He was again named a CFL East All-star.

He would go onto play eight seasons for Toronto and another two for Edmonton before retiring in 1997. He finished with 48 career interceptions for 783 yards, and 477 tackles.

Reggie Pleasant remains the leader in career interceptions and interception return yards for the Toronto Argonauts.

Life after football – answering the call
Faith was important to Reggie Pleasant. He came back into the public eye in July of 2009 when, as the chaplain of the Tennesse Titans of the NFL, he spoke at the funeral of quarterback Steve McNair. He offered comfort to McNair’s wife, children, mother and brothers, then led those gathered in “Jesus Loves You”.

“We will greatly miss Steve ‘Air’ McNair,” he concluded.

Pleasant would leave the Titans in 2015 to take a similar position with his alma mater Clemson University.

He holds the position to this day.

Parting thoughts
When all was said and done, Reggie Pleasant was the last member of the 1981 Clemson national championship team to retire from pro football.

But his journey in life would just begin. Instead of providing pass coverage, he provided pastoral care and served the spiritual needs of the Tennessee Titans. He was there in one of their darkest hours, offering comfort after the death of one of their best players.

He then he returned to Clemson as the chaplain of their football team.

Reggie Pleasant had come full circle.