Konrad Reuland

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Konrad Reuland

| image = Konrad Reuland 49ers.jpg

| caption = Reuland with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012

| position = Tight end

| number = 88, 87, 86

| birth_date = {{birth date|1987|4|4|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Springfield, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|12|12|1987|4|4|mf=y}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lbs = 254

| high_school = Mission Viejo (CA)

| college = {{ubl|Notre Dame (2006–2007)|Stanford (2009–2010)}}

| undraftedyear = 2011

| pastteams =

San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2011|2012}})*
New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2016}})*

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 12

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 90

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 =

}}

Konrad Albert Reuland (April 4, 1987 – December 12, 2016) was an American professional football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Stanford Cardinal. Undrafted out of college, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, and was also a member of the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore Ravens.

High school and college

Konrad Albert Reuland was born in Springfield, Ohio, the son of Canadian-born Ralf Volker Reuland and Illinois-born Mary Arlene Reuland (née Puchalski).{{cite web|title=Konrad Albert Reuland (b. 1987)|url=http://birth-records.mooseroots.com/l/12099870/Konrad-Albert-Reuland|publisher=Ohio Birth Records|access-date=April 14, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Reuland attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, helping their basketball team to reach the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section and state championships as a freshman in 2003. Before his sophomore year, he transferred to Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, California, and played for their gridiron football team. With Reuland, Mission Viejo had a 39–2 win–loss record. He also continued playing basketball for Mission Viejo, and graduated in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/reuland-738253-ravens-konrad.html|title=Former Mission Viejo star and NFL player Konrad Reuland dies at 29|first=Dan|last=Albano|work=Orange County Register|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=December 13, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Konrad-Reuland/a8268ba5-93c3-4b16-a15b-0cedb94efe87|title=Indianapolis Colts: Konrad Reuland|work=colts.com|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214130510/http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Konrad-Reuland/a8268ba5-93c3-4b16-a15b-0cedb94efe87|archive-date=December 14, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Reuland enrolled at the University of Notre Dame to play college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2006 and 2007. He transferred to Stanford University in 2008, and sat out for the season according to transfer rules. In 2009, he appeared in 13 games for the Stanford Cardinal, catching six passes for 142 yards.{{cite web|url=http://www.gostanford.com/news/2013/4/17/208440528.aspx|title=Player Bio: Konrad Reuland|work=gostanford.com|access-date=December 13, 2016}} Reuland recorded 21 receptions for 209 yards with Stanford in 2010.

Professional career

Reuland signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011. The 49ers kept Reuland on their practice squad for the 2011 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/12/13/49ers-colin-kaepernick-shayne-skov-mourn-konrad-reulands-death/|title=49ers Colin Kaepernick, Shayne Skov mourn Konrad Reuland's death: Reuland, a Stanford product, spent 2011 on 49ers practice squad|first=Cam|last=Inman|work=San Jose Mercury News|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=December 14, 2016}} Reuland was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on September 1, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Jets-Announce-Roster-Practice-Squad-Moves/80bd696c-0d87-49a6-a9b9-0ddc3f5e7093 |title=Jets Announce Roster, Practice Squad Moves |work=newyorkjets.com |date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903115821/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Jets-Announce-Roster-Practice-Squad-Moves/80bd696c-0d87-49a6-a9b9-0ddc3f5e7093 |archive-date=September 3, 2012 |access-date=December 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }} During the 2012 season, Reuland had 11 receptions for 83 yards, the longest for 18. He was placed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury on November 19, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/31507/jets-place-te-reuland-on-ir |title=Jets place TE Reuland on IR |last=Cimini |first=Rich |work=ESPN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120054355/http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/31507/jets-place-te-reuland-on-ir |archive-date=November 20, 2013 |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=December 13, 2016 |url-status=live }} Reuland signed with the Indianapolis Colts on October 21, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/colts-add-jeff-demps-konrad-reuland-to-practice-squad/|title=Colts add Jeff Demps, Konrad Reuland to practice squad|last=White|first=R.J.|work=cbssports.com|date=October 21, 2014|access-date=December 13, 2016}} He was released on October 30.

The Baltimore Ravens signed Reuland to their practice squad on November 12, 2014. On September 5, 2015, he was released by the Ravens.{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Trim-2015-Roster-To-53-Players-/0b362394-339e-474b-a779-cb73d7501232|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011232907/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Trim-2015-Roster-To-53-Players-/0b362394-339e-474b-a779-cb73d7501232|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2017|title=Ravens trim 2015 roster to 53 players|last=Downing|first=Garrett|work=baltimoreravens.com|date=September 5, 2015|access-date=December 13, 2016}} He signed with the Ravens' practice squad the following day,{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/2015-Ravens-Practice-Squad-Signings/04481412-b117-41dc-8c26-83d1f5bb7665|title=2015 Ravens practice squad signings|last=Downing|first=Garrett|work=baltimoreravens.com|date=September 6, 2015|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914193547/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/2015-Ravens-Practice-Squad-Signings/04481412-b117-41dc-8c26-83d1f5bb7665|archive-date=September 14, 2015|url-status=dead}} and was released on September 8.{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Sign-CB-Charles-James-To-Practice-Squad/885acb45-2e83-4125-979c-a2b8b078add4|title=Ravens sign CB Charles James to practice squad|last=Mink|first=Ryan|work=baltimoreravens.com|date=September 8, 2015|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505205245/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Sign-CB-Charles-James-To-Practice-Squad/885acb45-2e83-4125-979c-a2b8b078add4|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=dead}} On October 13, 2015, the Ravens re-signed Reuland to the practice squad. On November 4, 2015, Reuland was released. On November 18, he was re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Center-Jeremy-Zuttah-Put-On-Injured-Reserve/3709fb66-af73-4317-88e0-9022d6dbab92|title=Ravens center Jeremy Zuttah put on injured reserve|last=Mink|first=Ryan|work=baltimoreravens.com|date=November 18, 2015|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123193705/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Center-Jeremy-Zuttah-Put-On-Injured-Reserve/3709fb66-af73-4317-88e0-9022d6dbab92|archive-date=November 23, 2015|url-status=dead}} On December 8, the Ravens promoted Reuland to the active roster after Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams went down with injuries and Nick Boyle was suspended for the remainder of the season. On July 31, 2016, Reuland was signed by the Colts.{{cite web|url=http://www.stampedeblue.com/2016/7/31/12337426/colts-sign-tight-end-konrad-reuland-waive-nick-truesdell|title=Colts sign tight end Konrad Reuland, waive Nick Truesdell|last=Wilson|first=Josh|work=stampedeblue.com|date=July 31, 2016|access-date=December 13, 2016}} He played in three preseason games for the Colts, making one catch for ten yards. He was released on August 29.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/konrad-reuland-released-on-monday/|title=Konrad Reuland: Released on Monday|work=cbssports.com|date=August 29, 2016|access-date=December 13, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/fox59/2016/12/13/former-colts-tight-end-konrad-reuland-29-dies/95367146/|title=Former Colts tight end Konrad Reuland, 29, dies|work=Indianapolis Star|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=December 14, 2016}}

Personal life

Reuland was a close friend of NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez. The two had known each other since elementary school, and were high school football teammates at Mission Viejo in addition to later being NFL teammates on the Jets.{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/12/15/mark-sanchez-mourning-the-loss-of-two-close-friends/|title=Mark Sanchez mourning the loss of two close friends|website=ProFootballTalk|first=Michael David|last=Smith|date=December 15, 2016|access-date=February 20, 2017}}

Reuland suffered a brain aneurysm on November 28, 2016, and underwent surgery the following day. He died on December 12 at the UCLA Medical Center.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18267331/konrad-reuland-former-baltimore-raven-dies-29-brain-aneurysm|title=Konrad Reuland, former Ravens and Jets TE, dies at 29 after brain aneurysm|last=Hensley|first=Jamison|work=espn.com|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=December 13, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-rod-carew-heart-20170415-story.html|title=NFL player Konrad Reuland died at 29. But his heart saved baseball legend Rod Carew|last=DiGiovanna|first=Mike|newspaper=LA Times|date=April 14, 2017|access-date=April 14, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Former-Colts-Tight-End-Konrad-Reuland-29-Passes-Away/63d59491-b362-41b3-a1eb-332688ac7806?sf46385368=1|title=Former Colts Tight End Konrad Reuland, 29, Passes Away|last=Walker|first=Andrew|work=colts.com|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214130519/http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Former-Colts-Tight-End-Konrad-Reuland-29-Passes-Away/63d59491-b362-41b3-a1eb-332688ac7806?sf46385368=1|archive-date=December 14, 2016|url-status=dead}} His heart and one of his kidneys were donated and transplanted into MLB Hall of Fame player Rod Carew, Konrad’s childhood hero whom he met in his youth.{{Cite web|title=MLB Legend Rod Carew And The Former NFL Pro Who Gave Him A New Heart|url=https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2018/09/28/rod-carew-konrad-reuland-heart-assists|date=2018-09-28}} His other kidney and liver were donated and transplanted into two other people.{{cite news |first=Jamison |last=Hensley |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19157806/hall-famer-rod-carew-received-heart-former-baltimore-ravens-te-konrad-reuland |title=Rod Carew's transplanted heart, kidney donated from ex-Ravens TE Konrad Reuland |publisher=ESPN |date=April 15, 2017 |access-date=April 15, 2017 }}{{cite web |url=http://stanford_ftp.sidearmsports.com/Feature/Reuland/|title=A Good, Good Man| first=David|last=Kiefer|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213091737/http://stanford_ftp.sidearmsports.com/Feature/Reuland/|url-status=live|archive-date=December 13, 2017}}