From the derisive 'Turnover Tommy' to NFL offensive coordinator
In short: In the high-stakes world of college football, a single nickname can define a player's legacy. For Tommy Rees, a period of high-interception games earned him a reputation that followed him from Notre Dame's sidelines to the professional coaching ranks.
Thomas Kevin Rees's journey through American football is marked by both remarkable efficiency and polarizing struggles. While attending Lake Forest High School, Rees excelled, recording 2,572 yards and 23 touchdowns on 215 completions from 308 attempts during 2009, alongside just three interceptions. However, his transition to the collegiate level at Notre Dame brought significant scrutiny. During the 2011 season, despite achieving a 65.5% completion percentage—nearly matching the school record of 68% held by Jimmy Clausen—he threw 14 interceptions, a figure that tied for 11th in the FBS.
This volatility led to the emergence of the nickname 'Turnover Tommy' following a rivalry game against Michigan on September 10, 2012. His playing career was also punctuated by off-field challenges, including a suspension at the start of the 2012 season following an arrest for resisting law enforcement and illegal alcohol consumption. Despite these setbacks, Rees demonstrated resilience, leading the Irish to a Sun Bowl victory over Miami in his freshman year and navigating intense quarterback competitions with players like Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson.
After going undrafted in 2014, Rees pivoted from player to strategist. He began coaching as a graduate assistant at Northwestern in 2015 before moving to the San Diego Chargers in 2016. His ascent through the coaching ranks saw him return to Notre Dame as quarterbacks coach and eventually offensive coordinator in 2020. Following stints at Alabama and as a specialist for the Cleveland Browns, Rees reached a new professional milestone when he was hired as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator in early 2026, reuniting with head coach Kevin Stefanski.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tommy Rees (American football)
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