Commanders player Jeremy Reaves proposes to girlfriend on field after team clinches playoff berth in overtime
It was more than just locking a playoff spot.
Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves proposed to his longtime girlfriend Mikaela Worley following the team’s thrilling overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons, which clinched a spot in the playoffs on Sunday.
Reaves, 28, rushed over to Worley on the sideline at Northwest Stadium in Maryland and got on one knee to ask the physician assistant to marry him.
Worley, a former Volleyball player at the University of Louisiana Monroe, was seen falling to her knees in tears while putting her hands over her face and telling him, “Yes.”
Following the proposal, Reaves’s teammates rushed over to the happy couple to celebrate.
Commanders Punter Tress Way embraced the pair with a hug while fans cheered in the stands above them as they headed toward the locker room.
The safety said he’d had the ring for some time and was considering asking her last week but opted to wait until after Sunday night’s game.
“That thing was burning a hole in my pocket,” Reaves told the Associated Press.
However, he knew the Commanders would have to win if he was going to drop to one knee — making the game even more impactful for the 28-year-old.
“I hate losing, so there’s no way I could have done that in the right spirit after a loss,” he said.
“If we win this game, it’s destiny.”
Reaves said Worley has been his “best friend since high school” and has supported him through the highs and lows of his football career.
The safety said he knew Worley was the one when she stuck by him “through the worst” after he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in October 2023.
“She’s earned it. I can’t say enough about her. When I was at my lowest last year, she was there to pick me up everyday. She showed up,” Reaves said.
“I was going through the worst last year coming off an ACL (tear). Couldn’t do anything, couldn’t be my own man and she was the crutch there when I couldn’t do it myself.”
The former South Alabama star was undrafted as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 before being waived shortly after.
Reaves is in his sixth season with the Commanders after being elevated to their active roster in 2019.
The engagement was the cherry on top of a night full of excitement in Maryland.
The Commanders clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2020.
If the Commanders (11-5) win their regular-season finale at Dallas next weekend, they could move up to the sixth seed in the NFC and set up a wild-card round game at Tampa Bay or the Los Angeles Rams.
They otherwise would be seventh and visit division-rival Philadelphia unless Green Bay loses to Chicago.
With Post wires
Jeremy Reaves gets engaged after the Washington Commanders clinch a playoff spot
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves got to celebrate two major accomplishments on the field Sunday night, proposing to longtime girlfriend Mikaela Worley after he and his teammates beat Atlanta in overtime to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
“I hate losing, so there’s no way I could have done that in the right spirit after a loss,” Reaves said. “That thing was burning a hole in my pocket.”
The 28-year-old Reaves considered doing it last week but finally decided to make the move after giving Worley’s family a heads up Friday.
“If we win this game, it’s destiny,” Reaves said. “She’s earned it. I can’t say enough about her. When I was at my lowest last year, she was there to pick me up everyday. She showed up. That’s my best friend. Been my best friend since high school.”
Reaves had surgery to repair a partially torn ACL in October 2023, ending that season. He was the NFL’s All-Pro pick as special teams player in the 2021 season after finally earning a full-time job in the league, but the injury last year again put his career in jeopardy.
“You can tell a lot about somebody when they are going through the worst and how they handle it,” Reaves said. “I was going through the worst last year coming off an ACL (tear). Couldn’t do anything, couldn’t be my own man and she was the crutch there when I couldn’t do it myself.”
Reaves is one of Washington’s few players left from the organization’s most recent playoff game in the 2020 season.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Jeremy Reaves Celebrates Playoff Berth with Proposal to Mikaela Worley
In a night already filled with celebration, Washington Commanders’ special teams standout Jeremy Reaves added another unforgettable moment to remember. Following the team’s playoff-clinching victory, Reaves orchestrated a surprise proposal to his girlfriend Mikaela Worley on the field at Northwest Stadium.
The 28-year-old special teams ace, who had just finished playing 22 snaps in the crucial victory, dropped to one knee in front of teammates and cameras to pop the question. Worley’s response? A resounding yes, making the night’s victory even sweeter.
NBC broadcasters Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico captured the heartwarming moment for viewers at home. “Jeremy Reaves, who played 22 special teams snaps, has the most special one of all. Taking a knee at the end of the game for victory… Of course she said yes, you’re in the playoffs now!” Tirico remarked during the broadcast.
The joyous occasion was shared by Reaves’ teammates, particularly Commanders’ punter Tress Way, who was spotted sharing an excited embrace with the newly-engaged Worley. The happy couple then made their way to the locker room together, marking the beginning of their new chapter amid the team’s postseason celebrations.
For Reaves, the evening provided dual causes for celebration – a chance at playoff glory and a resounding “yes” from his now-fiancée, creating a moment that will be remembered well beyond this season’s playoff run.
The post Jeremy Reaves Celebrates Playoff Berth with Proposal to Mikaela Worley appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
WATCH: Commanders S Jeremy Reaves proposes to girlfriend after playoff-clinching win
The Washington Commanders were on the field celebrating a playoff-clinching win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. As his teammates continued to celebrate, safety Jeremy Reaves had some plans of his own.
The veteran defensive back and special teams ace proposed to his girlfriend, Mikaela Worley, on the field — and she said yes.
Reaves, who has been with the Commanders off and on since 2018, is one of the franchise's most popular players among coaches, teammates, and fans.
Here's the entire proposal, courtesy of Washington superfan Chris Bryant.
Here's the proposal with some audio from NBC's Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth.
When general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn took over last offseason, they didn't keep many free agents from the previous regime. However, Quinn and Peters prioritized Reaves, and the coach has praised him throughout the season.
Congrats to Jeremy Reaves and the future Mrs. Reaves.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: WATCH: Commanders S Jeremy Reaves proposes to girlfriend after playoff-clinching win
