Reche Caldwell

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Reche Caldwell

| image = Rechecaldwell.jpg

| caption = Caldwell with the Patriots in 2006

| alt =

| number = 82, 86, 87

| position = Wide receiver

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1979|3|28}}

| birth_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|6|6|1979|3|28}}

| death_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lbs = 210

| high_school = Thomas Jefferson
(Tampa, Florida)

| college = Florida

| draftyear = 2002

| draftround = 2

| draftpick = 48

| pastteams = * San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})

New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2006}})
Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2007}})
St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2008}})*

| highlights = * Second-team All-SEC (2001)

| statleague = NFL

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 152

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 1,851

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 11

| pfr = CaldRe00

}}

Donald Reche Caldwell Jr. ({{IPAc-en||r|ᵻ|'|ʃ|eɪ}} {{respell|rih|SHAY}} or {{IPAc-en|'|r|i:|ʃ|eɪ}} {{respell|REE|shay}};{{cite web|title=Numerical Roster|url=http://www.gatorzone.com/football/media/2001/pdf/36-37.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043018/http://www.gatorzone.com/football/media/2001/pdf/36-37.pdf|archive-date=September 24, 2015}} March 28, 1979 – June 6, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons in the 2000s with the San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and Washington Redskins. Caldwell played college football for the Florida Gators.

Early life

Caldwell was born in Tampa, Florida, in 1979.Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CaldRe00.htm Reche Caldwell]. Retrieved March 16, 2011. He attended Jefferson High School in Tampa,databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110519064551/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CALDWREC01 Reche Caldwell]}}. Retrieved March 16, 2011. where he was a three-sport standout in high school football, basketball and baseball for the Jefferson Dragons.Joey Knight, "[http://tampabayonline.net/reports/top100/no67.htm Tampa Bay's All-Century Team: No. 67 Reche Caldwell] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021103224210/http://tampabayonline.net/reports/top100/no67.htm |date=2002-11-03 }}," The Tampa Tribune (October 20, 1999). Retrieved April 17, 2012. In football, Caldwell started at tailback as a freshman; as a sophomore, he converted to quarterback—a position he had never played—and threw for 6,936 yards and 77 touchdowns as a three-year starter. As a junior in 1996, he threw for 2,338 yards, led the Dragons to the Class 5A state semifinal game, earned high school All-American honors from PrepStar, and was named the Florida Class 5A Player of the Year.GatorZone.com, Football History, 2001 Roster, [http://web.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2001&bio=caldwell.html Reche Caldwell]. Retrieved March 25, 2011. He was a first-team all-state selection in 1996 and a second-team selection in 1997.

In four high school baseball seasons, he set the Jefferson Dragons' career records for batting average (.379), doubles (25), triples (six), steals (67) and runs (76). The Cincinnati Reds selected him in the 1998 MLB draft, but he decided to play college football instead.

College career

Caldwell accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he was a three-year letterman for coach Steve Spurrier's Gators teams from 1998 to 2001.[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402035222/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf |date=April 2, 2012 }}, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 77, 80, 85, 89, 97, 139, 143–145, 148, 158, 180 (2011). Retrieved August 27, 2011. As a junior in 2001, he was a third-team All-American selection by The National Sports Bureau, an honorable mention All-American selection by the Football News, a semi-finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award (annually given to nation's top receiver), and a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection. He finished his impressive junior season with sixty-five receptions for 1,059 yards (an average of 16.3 yards per catch) and ten touchdowns, becoming only the ninth receiver in Gators history to gain over 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. Caldwell majored in leisure service management.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 11 3/4

| weight = 194

| dash = 4.53

| ten split =

| twenty split =

| shuttle = 4.10

| cone drill = 7.00

| vertical = 41.5

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 10

| bench =

| arm span = 32

| hand span = 9 3/4

| wonderlic =

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=267&DraftYear=2002 |title=Reche Caldwell, Florida, WR, 2002 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=February 2, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=6135 |title=Reche Caldwell, Combine Results, WR - Florida |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=February 2, 2022}}

}}

= San Diego Chargers =

Caldwell was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft with the 48th overall pick.{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played for the Chargers for four seasons from {{NFL Year|2002}} to {{NFL Year|2005}}.National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/players/rechecaldwell/profile?id=CAL277848 Reche Caldwell]. Retrieved March 25, 2011. In his rookie season, he had twenty-two catches for 208 yards and three touchdowns and returned nine kickoffs for a 24.4-yard average. In 2003, he played in nine games with four starts for the Chargers; he caught eight passes for eighty yards and rushed for thirty-nine yards on five carries.

His {{NFL Year|2004}} season began with three touchdown receptions in the Chargers' first five games. However, in a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, Caldwell suffered a knee injury, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and was lost for the season.{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2004 |title=Caldwell done with torn ACL |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1905486 |access-date=June 9, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} He returned to play a full season in 2005.{{cite web |title=Reche Caldwell Career Stats {{!}} NFL.com |url=https://www.nfl.com/players/reche-caldwell/stats/career |website=www.nfl.com |access-date=June 9, 2020}}

= New England Patriots =

Caldwell subsequently signed with the New England Patriots prior to the {{NFL Year|2006}} season.{{cite web | title=Patriots Sign WR Reche Caldwell | website=New England Patriots | date=2006-03-17 | url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-wr-reche-caldwell-152021 | access-date=2024-12-24}} He went on to total over 60 catches and 700 yards on the season. During a playoff game against the Chargers, Caldwell had seven receptions for 80 yards, including a four-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Tom Brady in the fourth quarter. A week later in the AFC Championship game, he dropped two passes during the Patriots' 38–34 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Caldwell was released by the Patriots four days before the first game of the 2007 season.{{Cite web |date=2007-09-03 |title=Patriots see Moss, Samuel practice; Caldwell cut |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3002826 |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}

= Washington Redskins =

Caldwell signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins in September 2007.{{Cite news |last=Canfora |first=Jason La |date=2007-09-12 |title=Caldwell Signs; Jansen Is Officially Out for the Year |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091102205.html |access-date=2023-03-10 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US}} During the {{NFL Year|2007}} season, he appeared in eight games for the Redskins with fifteen receptions for 141 yards.

= St. Louis Rams =

On March 25, 2008, Caldwell signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Rams.{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Mollie |title=Former NFL receiver Reche Caldwell shot and killed at 41 |url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/07/reche-caldwell-former-nfl-receiver-shot-and-killed-at-41/ |website=New York Post |access-date=June 9, 2020 |language=en |date=June 7, 2020}} However, he was released during the final preseason roster cuts.{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2020 |title=Former Patriot wide receiver Caldwell killed |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20200607/former-patriot-wide-receiver-caldwell-killed |access-date=June 9, 2020 |website=Providence Journal |language=en}}

In his six-season NFL career, Caldwell appeared in seventy-one games, starting in twenty-nine of them, while making 152 receptions for 1,851 yards and eleven touchdowns. He also tallied fourteen carries for 108 yards rushing.

NFL career statistics

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

! colspan="2"| Legend

Bold

| Career high

= Regular season =

rowspan="2"\| Year !rowspan="2"\| Team !colspan="2"\| Games !colspan="6"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
GP	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2002	SD \| 16 \|\| 2 \|\| 43 \|\| 22 \|\| 208 \|\| 9.5 \|\| 26 \|\| 3
2003	SD \| 9 \|\| 4 \|\| 34 \|\| 8 \|\| 80 \|\| 10.0 \|\| 15 \|\| 0
2004	SD \| 6 \|\| 6 \|\| 29 \|\| 18 \|\| 310 \|\| 17.2 \|\| 58 \|\| 3
2005	SD \| 16 \|\| 2 \|\| 43 \|\| 28 \|\| 352 \|\| 12.6 \|\| 43 \|\| 1
2006	NE \| 16 \|\| 14 \|\| 102 \|\| 61 \|\| 760 \|\| 12.5 \|\| 62 \|\| 4
2007	WAS \| 8 \|\| 1 \|\| 22 \|\| 15 \|\| 141 \|\| 9.4 \|\| 19 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\|	71	29	273	152	1,851	12.2	62	11

= Playoffs =

rowspan="2"\| Year !rowspan="2"\| Team !colspan="2"\| Games !colspan="6"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
GP	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2006	NE \| 3 \|\| 3 \|\| 24 \|\| 16 \|\| 176 \|\| 11.0 \|\| 49 \|\| 1
2007	WAS \| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 4 \|\| 1 \|\| 7 \|\| 7.0 \|\| 7 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\|	4	3	28	17	183	10.8	49	1

Personal life

Caldwell was the older brother of Andre Caldwell, former Florida Gators wide receiver and NFL wide receiver and kick returner.GatorZone.com, Football History, 2007 Roster, [http://web.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2007&player_id=12 Andre Caldwell] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006162745/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2007&player_id=12 |date=October 6, 2011 }}. Retrieved June 9, 2020.

On May 14, 2014, Caldwell was arrested for drug possession and intent to distribute.{{Cite web |last=Breech |first=John |date=March 4, 2016 |title=Former NFL WR Reche Caldwell arrested with 4.8 pounds of ecstasy |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24563900/former-nfl-wr-reche-caldwell-arrested-with-48-pounds-of-ecstasy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040952/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24563900/former-nfl-wr-reche-caldwell-arrested-with-48-pounds-of-ecstasy |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=June 8, 2020 |website=CBSSports.com}} On January 30, 2015, he was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and three years probation for possession of MDMA with intent to distribute. In addition, he pleaded guilty to drug charges involving marijuana and ecstasy, along with charges involving gambling.{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2015 |title=Reche Caldwell sentenced to 27 months |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/reche-caldwell-sentenced-to-27-months/2215870/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2014-10-02 |title=Former Patriot Reche Caldwell Pleads Guilty To Mailing Ecstasy |url=https://nesn.com/2014/10/ex-new-england-patriot-reche-caldwell-pleads-guilty-to-mailing-ecstasy/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=NESN.com |language=en-US}}

On December 12, 2019, Caldwell was accused by the Justice Department of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/12/12/clinton-portis-among-former-nfl-players-charged-with-defrauding-health-care-program/|title=Clinton Portis among 10 former players charged with defrauding NFL health care program|last=Kilgore|first=Adam|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=December 12, 2019}} He pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit health fraud on January 23, 2020, and was set to be sentenced in June 2020.{{cite news |author=Estep, Bill |title=More former NFL players pleading guilty in health fraud case in Kentucky |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article239668723.html |website=Kentucky.com |date=January 27, 2020 |access-date=February 21, 2020}}

Death

Caldwell was shot and killed on June 6, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Laine |first=Jenna |date=June 7, 2020 |title=Former NFL receiver Caldwell killed in Florida |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29278345/former-nfl-receiver-reche-caldwell-killed-florida |access-date=June 8, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Matt |title=Ex-NFL, Gators receiver Reche Caldwell killed in Tampa shooting |url=https://www.thespec.com/ts/sports/football/2020/06/07/ex-nfl-gators-receiver-reche-caldwell-killed-in-tampa-shooting.html |website=The Hamilton Spectator |date=June 7, 2020 |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator |access-date=June 7, 2020}} According to his mother, the shooting occurred during an attempted robbery.{{Cite news |last=Florio |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Florio |date=June 7, 2020 |title=Reche Caldwell has been killed in a shooting |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/06/07/reche-caldwell-has-been-killed-in-a-shooting/ |access-date=June 7, 2020 |work=NBCSports.com}} Police reported that the killing did not appear to be random, and that the apparent robbery may have been planned.{{Cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Matt |last2=Knight |first2=Joey |date=June 7, 2020 |title=Ex-NFL, Gators receiver Reche Caldwell killed in Tampa shooting |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa/2020/06/07/reports-ex-nfl-receiver-donald-reche-caldwell-killed-in-tampa-shooting/ |access-date=June 8, 2020 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}