Reggie Kelly is a former NFL Tight End and CEO of KYVAN Foods. Such impressive titles might conjure images of an intimidating, arrogant man. But the opposite is true of Kelly. Beneath his bulky pads, NFL football uniforms and sharp suits is a remarkably humble man from Aberdeen, Mississippi. “I’m just a small town country boy,” smiles Kelly. “Everyone knew each other and I couldn’t get into any trouble! If I did, my parents gave my neighbors permission to spank me; I was truly raised in a loving community.”
Kelly graduated from Aberdeen High School with honors and married his sweetheart, Sheila. She recalls, “I remember meeting Reginald (the name everyone called him back in Aberdeen). We went to the same high school and he was one of the tallest boys in school. His height, his intelligence, and the fact that he was wearing braces on his teeth were attributes that drew me to him!”
The newlyweds headed to Starkville and Kelly became a member of the Mississippi State University football team. Coach Ricky Black recalls first meeting Kelly. “I was part of the recruiting team and visited his hometown. Most people think high school players having big egos, but not Reggie. He was incredibly approachable and a coachable player,” says Black. “By the time he was a sophomore in college, he was a very respected guy. The other players recognized how strong he was in his convictions and he became a mentor.”
After graduating from MSU, Kelly was drafted in the second round and played under Dan Rives for the Atlanta Falcons. “Then I went to the Cincinnati Bengals for eight years, then back to the Falcons for my final year in the NFL,” recalls Kelly.
His football career is remarkable, but Kelly’s compassion for people is even more extraordinary. “I have a heart for people. It’s just really that simple,” says Kelly. “I love rooting for the underdog. It motivates me to help others. Even when I played in the NFL, grown men were coming in to play my position, but I still encouraged them to succeed.”
With a surprising push from his teammates, Kelly returned to his beloved hometown and began hosting free football camps in Aberdeen in 2008. “I was playing for the Bengals and came back home to reward the Aberdeen kids who exemplified academic excellence. I invited NFL stars from around the country to help me out as well. We had a blast!”
When camp came to a close, Kelly’s teammates and volunteers feasted on savory southern meals, prepared by Kelly and his family. “I came from a family of cooks, not chefs, and we made any excuse to get together and have a big family meal. My NFL teammates raved about our cooking!” smiles Kelly. “They weren’t accustomed to good southern food that touches your soul. They were adamant about us putting our family recipes on the market. But I only knew athletics; I didn’t have a degree in the food industry. We decided to take a leap of faith into unchartered waters. I gathered my family secrets, pitched my idea to Wal-Mart, and the rest is history.”
KYVAN Foods, a Soul Food Line, was born. “It is a combination of my kids’ names, Kyla and Kavan. My wife and I combined the two names to leave a lasting legacy to our children.” Kyla is eleven-years-old and Kavan is nine, and Kelly is already teaching them the family business. “I enjoy taking them with me to appearances so they can understand customer service, learn how to conduct a meeting, how to be loyal and do things with integrity.”
KYVAN Foods hit the market in 2011, and is sold in stores across around the country. Their tasty Honey Apple Salsa and Sweet Barbecue Sauce are big sellers across the southeast. Kelly smiles, “Our Honey Apple salsa is made with premium honey, delicious apples, then perfectly paired with cilantro and peppers. It is ‘Salsa with a Soul.’ All of these are family recipes – passed down from generation to generation.”
When he is not busy promoting KYVAN Foods, Kelly can be found volunteering. “I coach youth basketball and flag football in hopes that the next generation will be trailblazers as well. It is all about the heart. I encourage them and teach them the fundamentals. As long as you have the right heart and do things with the right intentions, it will all work out for your good.” The confidence and values he instills in others are astounding. Sheila smiles, “Reggie inspires me to always put God first in everything, give your best and God will take care of the rest. He is truly a man of integrity who loves the Lord, his wife and his two kids and has a heart of gold.”
Kelly’s attitude even stumps professional athletes. Recently, a former Bengals teammate sent him an unexpected message. It read, “I love you big brother. I appreciate you teaching me how to be a man on and off the field.” Kelly says with awe, “I was truly blown away by his words. Even though he was drafted to replace me, I was never upset or angry. It was a grand opportunity for me to teach and help him grow. My career has never been about money or being in the spotlight, but it’s about affecting lives. His message truly blessed my heart. That is the reason I do what I do.”
Kelly and his family are settled in Atlanta, but return to Mississippi at least twice a month. Sheila says, “Reggie and I go home to spend time with our parents and my 93-year-old grandmother.” Reggie adds, “Any time the kids get a break, we go home to Aberdeen. It is very important for our kids to know their heritage. We want them to know where their family was born and raised, and understand the great state of Mississippi.” Kelly smiles, “Hopefully I will get them to attend Mississippi State University one day!”
Coach Black and Kelly still converse at least once a week. Black says, “We share what’s going on with our families. Kelly reads the Bible everyday and we talk about different things in scripture. We have a great understanding of one another.”
Kelly laughs, “A lot of people think NFL players are just big, strong brutes. But along the way, we have had people who have touched our lives. Don’t settle for mediocrity – be pushed and pulled and stretched out of your comfort zone. I try to do that for others in a loving way. I hope people will say, ‘Reggie is hard on me because he sees the best in me.’ In the end, I don’t have to be liked, but respected, and I think that’s what I have to do.”
Kelly graduated from Aberdeen High School with honors and married his sweetheart, Sheila. She recalls, “I remember meeting Reginald (the name everyone called him back in Aberdeen). We went to the same high school and he was one of the tallest boys in school. His height, his intelligence, and the fact that he was wearing braces on his teeth were attributes that drew me to him!”
The newlyweds headed to Starkville and Kelly became a member of the Mississippi State University football team. Coach Ricky Black recalls first meeting Kelly. “I was part of the recruiting team and visited his hometown. Most people think high school players having big egos, but not Reggie. He was incredibly approachable and a coachable player,” says Black. “By the time he was a sophomore in college, he was a very respected guy. The other players recognized how strong he was in his convictions and he became a mentor.”
After graduating from MSU, Kelly was drafted in the second round and played under Dan Rives for the Atlanta Falcons. “Then I went to the Cincinnati Bengals for eight years, then back to the Falcons for my final year in the NFL,” recalls Kelly.
His football career is remarkable, but Kelly’s compassion for people is even more extraordinary. “I have a heart for people. It’s just really that simple,” says Kelly. “I love rooting for the underdog. It motivates me to help others. Even when I played in the NFL, grown men were coming in to play my position, but I still encouraged them to succeed.”
With a surprising push from his teammates, Kelly returned to his beloved hometown and began hosting free football camps in Aberdeen in 2008. “I was playing for the Bengals and came back home to reward the Aberdeen kids who exemplified academic excellence. I invited NFL stars from around the country to help me out as well. We had a blast!”
When camp came to a close, Kelly’s teammates and volunteers feasted on savory southern meals, prepared by Kelly and his family. “I came from a family of cooks, not chefs, and we made any excuse to get together and have a big family meal. My NFL teammates raved about our cooking!” smiles Kelly. “They weren’t accustomed to good southern food that touches your soul. They were adamant about us putting our family recipes on the market. But I only knew athletics; I didn’t have a degree in the food industry. We decided to take a leap of faith into unchartered waters. I gathered my family secrets, pitched my idea to Wal-Mart, and the rest is history.”
KYVAN Foods, a Soul Food Line, was born. “It is a combination of my kids’ names, Kyla and Kavan. My wife and I combined the two names to leave a lasting legacy to our children.” Kyla is eleven-years-old and Kavan is nine, and Kelly is already teaching them the family business. “I enjoy taking them with me to appearances so they can understand customer service, learn how to conduct a meeting, how to be loyal and do things with integrity.”
KYVAN Foods hit the market in 2011, and is sold in stores across around the country. Their tasty Honey Apple Salsa and Sweet Barbecue Sauce are big sellers across the southeast. Kelly smiles, “Our Honey Apple salsa is made with premium honey, delicious apples, then perfectly paired with cilantro and peppers. It is ‘Salsa with a Soul.’ All of these are family recipes – passed down from generation to generation.”
When he is not busy promoting KYVAN Foods, Kelly can be found volunteering. “I coach youth basketball and flag football in hopes that the next generation will be trailblazers as well. It is all about the heart. I encourage them and teach them the fundamentals. As long as you have the right heart and do things with the right intentions, it will all work out for your good.” The confidence and values he instills in others are astounding. Sheila smiles, “Reggie inspires me to always put God first in everything, give your best and God will take care of the rest. He is truly a man of integrity who loves the Lord, his wife and his two kids and has a heart of gold.”
Kelly’s attitude even stumps professional athletes. Recently, a former Bengals teammate sent him an unexpected message. It read, “I love you big brother. I appreciate you teaching me how to be a man on and off the field.” Kelly says with awe, “I was truly blown away by his words. Even though he was drafted to replace me, I was never upset or angry. It was a grand opportunity for me to teach and help him grow. My career has never been about money or being in the spotlight, but it’s about affecting lives. His message truly blessed my heart. That is the reason I do what I do.”
Kelly and his family are settled in Atlanta, but return to Mississippi at least twice a month. Sheila says, “Reggie and I go home to spend time with our parents and my 93-year-old grandmother.” Reggie adds, “Any time the kids get a break, we go home to Aberdeen. It is very important for our kids to know their heritage. We want them to know where their family was born and raised, and understand the great state of Mississippi.” Kelly smiles, “Hopefully I will get them to attend Mississippi State University one day!”
Coach Black and Kelly still converse at least once a week. Black says, “We share what’s going on with our families. Kelly reads the Bible everyday and we talk about different things in scripture. We have a great understanding of one another.”
Kelly laughs, “A lot of people think NFL players are just big, strong brutes. But along the way, we have had people who have touched our lives. Don’t settle for mediocrity – be pushed and pulled and stretched out of your comfort zone. I try to do that for others in a loving way. I hope people will say, ‘Reggie is hard on me because he sees the best in me.’ In the end, I don’t have to be liked, but respected, and I think that’s what I have to do.”
{Blog post by Mitchell Walters}
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