Tommy Rees (American football)

Thomas Kevin Rees (born May 22, 1992) is an American football coach and former player, who is the current offensive coordinator of the Alabama Crimson Tide. He played college football at Notre Dame from 2010 to 2013.

Tommy Rees
refer to caption
Rees playing in the 2010 Sun Bowl.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Position:Offensive coordinator and Quarterbacks coach
Personal information
Born: (1992-05-22) May 22, 1992
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Lake Forest (Lake Forest, Illinois)
College:Notre Dame (2010–2013)
Undrafted:2014
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Northwestern (2015)
    Graduate assistant
  • San Diego Chargers (2016)
    Offensive assistant
  • Notre Dame (2017–2019)
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Notre Dame (2020–2022)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Alabama (2023–present)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach

Early years

Rees was born to Bill and Susan (née Cantwell) Rees in Los Angeles, California[1] and grew up in Lake Bluff, Illinois.[2] His father played college football at Ohio Wesleyan and served as an assistant coach at Northwestern and UCLA. Tommy played football at Lake Forest High School. As a senior in 2009, he completed 215 of 308 passes for 2,572 yards and 23 touchdowns while only throwing 3 interceptions the entire season. Rees had several explosive games including a 526-yard, six-touchdown performance against Bradford.[3] His brother Danny Rees played football at UCLA.[4]

Rees was rated a three-star recruit by ESPN[5] and Rivals.com,[6] and signed with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in July 2009.[5][6]

College career

2010 season

As a freshman at Notre Dame, Rees saw limited action in games against Michigan and Navy, before being forced into action early against Tulsa when starting quarterback Dayne Crist ruptured his patellar tendon. Rees finished the game with 334 yards and four touchdown passes but threw a costly interception in the waning minutes of the game which sealed the victory for the Golden Hurricane. Rees led the Irish to victories in his first four starts at quarterback, including upsets of Utah and USC, culminating in a 33–17 victory over Miami in the Sun Bowl. He finished the season with 1,106 yards passing, 12 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.[7]

2011 season

In the 2011 season, Rees passed for 2,869 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Notre Dame went 8–4 in the regular season with a bowl loss. Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson competed with Rees for the starting QB position in the 2012 season.

After Michigan's comeback in the September 10 rivalry game, the derisive nickname "Turnover Tommy" began to circulate,[8] which stuck with Rees following his performance in 2011,[9] and through his college career.[10][11] Despite this reputation, Rees would finish the season with a completion percentage of 65.5%, a second to the Irish record of 68%, held by Jimmy Clausen.[12] Rees' 14 interceptions this season was a tie for 11th in the FBS.[13]

2012 season

Rees was suspended by head coach Brian Kelly for the first game of the 2012 season after the junior quarterback was arrested and charged with resisting law enforcement and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor after fleeing from an off-campus party.[14] Everett Golson was named the starter for the opening game against Navy in Dublin, Ireland. Golson played most of the second game of the 2012 season against Purdue but was injured leading Rees to come in. Rees entered the game to a cascade of boos yet exited after piloting the game-winning drive, which ended in a winning field goal for Notre Dame.[15] However, after the game, Kelly indicated that the team was staying with their initial starter, Golson, for the third game of the 2012 season at Michigan State. Rees would go on to start two games that year as Notre Dame made the BCS title game. All 13 games during the 2012 season were vacated soon after for use of ineligible players.[16]

2013 season

On June 5, 2013, it was announced Rees would start at quarterback for the 2013 season.[17]

Career statistics
Season Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsTDIntAvgAttYdsTDAvg
2010Notre Dame 9410016461.01,1061286.712−20−0.2
2011Notre Dame 131226941165.52,87120147.031−560−1.8
2012Notre Dame 112345957.6436227.44−131−3.3
2013Notre Dame 121219736753.72,93827138.09−620−6.9
Career45306001,00159.97,35161377.356−1331−2.4

Professional career

Washington Redskins

After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Rees was signed by the Washington Redskins on May 10, 2014.[18][19] He was released by the team on May 17.[20][21]

Coaching career

Northwestern

Rees began his coaching career at Northwestern, where he spent one season as an offensive graduate assistant for the 2015 team.[22]

San Diego Chargers

On February 9, 2016, Rees joined the San Diego Chargers coaching staff as an offensive assistant.[23]

Notre Dame

In January 2017, Rees returned to Notre Dame to be the quarterbacks coach. On January 14, 2020, Rees was officially promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing Chip Long.[24] In his first season as offensive coordinator, the Irish finished the 2020 campaign 10–2 with a loss to eventual national champion Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Alabama

On February 3, 2023, CBS reported that Rees had reached a deal with Alabama to become the offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide.[25]

Personal life

Rees' father, Bill, works for the University of Notre Dame.[26] His mother's name is Susan. He has an older brother, Danny, who played football at UCLA[27] and a sister named Meghan.

References
  1. California Births, 1905 – 1995. Family Tree Legends Records Collection
  2. Notre Dame's Rees full of surprises. Articles.chicagotribune.com (September 8, 2011). Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  3. Official Notre Dame player bio. Und.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.
  4. Player Bio: Danny Rees Archived April 12, 2013, at archive.today, UCLABruins.com, 2010
  5. "Tommy Rees – Football Recruiting – Player Profiles – ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  6. "Tommy Rees". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  7. ESPN Tommy Rees stats. Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.
  8. "A Rough Path: The Tale of Tommy Rees". Down the Tunnel. November 18, 2013.
  9. Watson, Graham (September 30, 2013). "Fans Petition the President of the United States to Bench Notre Dame QB Tommy Rees". Yahoo! Sports.
  10. Killoren, Connor (December 22, 2013). "Notre Dame Football: Brian Kelly's Holiday Wish List". Bleacher Report.
  11. Dodd, Dennis (August 23, 2013). "Notre Dame's Fallen QB Tommy Rees has Something to Prove". CBS Sports.
  12. McBride, Oscar (July 11, 2013). "Tommy Rees: Turnover Tommy or Triumphant Tommy? – Her Loyal Sons". Her Loyal Sons.
  13. Daughters, Amy (September 3, 2013). "Is Tommy Rees Finally Ready to Take the Next Step as Notre Dame Quarterback?". Bleacher Report.
  14. Tommy Rees suspended for opener sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 9/21/12.
  15. Ten players, ten reasons: Tommy Rees
  16. "NCAA appeals committee upholds vacation of Notre Dame wins | NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA". www.ncaa.org. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018.
  17. "Brian Kelly says Rees will start for Notre Dame in 2013". USA Today. June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  18. Undrafted free agents 2014: Washington Redskins sign Silas Redd, Tommy Rees
  19. Jones, Mike (May 15, 2014). "Notre Dame QB Tommy Rees rounds out Redskins' list of undrafted rookie signings". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  20. El-Bashir, Tarik (May 17, 2014). "Redskins make moves, release S Jose Gumbs". CSNWashington.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  21. Walker, Andrew (May 17, 2014). "Gruden: 'Hats Off' To Those At Rookie Minicamp". Redskins.com. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  22. Hamilton, Brian (December 23, 2014). "Former ND QB Tommy Rees to join Northwestern as graduate assistant". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  23. Henne, Ricky (February 9, 2016). "Chargers Finalize Coaching Staff". Chargers.com. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  24. "Rees named Offensive Coordinator; Taylor is Run-Game Coordinator". IrishIllustrated.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  25. "Alabama hires Notre Dame's Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator to replace Bill O'Brien, per reports". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  26. "Bill Rees Finds Home At Notre Dame". IrishIllustrated.com. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  27. "Danny Rees – Football". UCLA. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
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