Reese was a three-year letterman and three-year starter for the University of California, Los Angeles. He was voted UCLA rookie of the year in 1967. Reese was part of a Bruins defense that gave up only 103 points and posted an 8-1-1 record his senior year. Reese was an All-American in 1969. He was voted the team co-MVP in 1969 making him the only defensive player ever to win the award. Reese was also one of UCLA's tri-captains as well as All-Pac-8. He was voted to the Los Angeles Times All-Time UCLA team in 1970. Reese played in the Hula Bowl after his senior season and was voted the game's outstanding lineman.
Reese was an assistant coach at UCLA from 1971 to 1973 and with Georgia Tech in 1974. He became the Detroit Lions' strength and conditioning coach in 1975 and moved to the San Francisco 49ers as strength and conditioning coach in 1978. Reese became the Minnesota Vikings' linebacker coach and special teams from 1979 though 1983 and was the Vikings' defensive coordinator in 1984. He returned to the post of linebacker coach in 1985. The next season, Reese began a four-year stint as linebacker coach for the Houston Oilers.
NFL executive
In 1990, Reese was promoted to the position of assistant general manager for the Oilers following an offer from Jerry Glanville, then head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, to join the Falcons as assistant head coach. Bud Adams wanted to keep Reese with the Oilers so he offered Reese the position of assistant general manager and the opportunity to one day replace Mike Holovak, then-Oilers general manager. Reese held that position until 1993. In 1994, Reese was promoted to executive vice president and general manager, where he stayed while the Oilers moved to Nashville, Tennessee, first as the Tennessee Oilers, then as the Tennessee Titans. He added the role of director of football operations in 2001. After disputes with Adams and coach Jeff Fisher about the direction of the team, and realizing that Adams was not likely to offer him a new contract, Reese resigned his position with the Titans following the 2006 season, despite amassing the most wins of any Oilers/Titans general manager. Following his departure from the Titans, Reese joined ESPN as an NFL analyst and writer for ESPN.com. On January 27, 2009, Reese was hired by the New England Patriots as a senior football advisor following Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli leaving to become general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs. Following the 2009 season, Reese was a finalist for the Seattle Seahawks general manager position, one that was eventually filled by John Schneider. Reese left the Patriots after the 2012 season.
