Former NFL player Reggie Swinton takes over Arkansas high school football program

Reggie Swinton, a wide receiver/return specialist who played for four NFL teams in five seasons, will take over Arkansas’ Jacksonville High School football program. He will take over Eric Allen, who led the Class 5A Central school to a 2-8 record last season.

Before joining Jacksonville, Swinton was Forrest City’s head coach for one season. From consecutive 1-9 seasons, the Mustangs finished with three more victories during Swinton’s lone season. Their 4-7 record last year includes a 4-3 slate against teams within their conference.

Reggie Swinton started his coaching career as wide receivers and special teams coach for Arkansas Baptist College. After that stint, he joined the Pulaski Heights Middle School’s coaching staff.

Before transitioning as a coach, he was a multi-sport standout at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Swinton was a gifted athlete, as proven by his All-State selections in track and field, baseball, basketball, and football.

After high school, Reggie Swinton concentrated on football and played for fellow Central High alum Houston Nutt at Murray State. While with the Racers, he became an All-Ohio Valley Conference member and Second-team Division I-AA All-American in 1997. Swinton also established school records in receptions (144), receiving yards (2,346), and receiving touchdowns (20).

While Swinton declared for the 1998 NFL Draft, no team selected him. He tried out with the Jacksonville Jaguars but didn’t make the active roster. Three years later, he would become an NFL player after signing with the Dallas Cowboys.

In his first year with the Cowboys, Reggie Swinton established single-season franchise records in kickoff return yards (1,327) and kickoff returns (56). Swinton played three seasons with the Cowboys before getting traded to the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers released him, leading the Detroit Lions to claim him off waivers. Swinton also played for the Arizona Cardinals before retiring as a professional football player. He finished his NFL career with 1,311 punt return yards, 4,919 kick return yards, and four special teams touchdowns.

In addition to the NFL, Reggie Swinton also had stints in the Canadian Football League and the XFL. He suited up with the Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL and the Las Vegas Outlaws in the XFL.