Willard Reaves

Willard Sheldon Reaves (born August 17, 1959) is an American-Canadian politician and former professional gridiron football running back who has served as the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party since 2025. He previously served as the party's deputy leader from 2023 to 2024, and unsuccessfully ran to represent Fort Whyte in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 2022 and 2023, losing both times to fellow ex-Blue Bomber Obby Khan of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.

Reaves played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Canadian Football League (CFL), as well as for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins in the National Football League (NFL).

Professional career Canadian Football League Reaves played five seasons for the Blue Bombers from 1983 to 1987. He rushed for 898 yards in his first year and was runner up for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award and an all star. In 1984, he led the league rushing for 1,733 yards on 304 carries and 18 touchdowns, all team records. He also set a CFL record with 2,140 yards from scrimmage. He won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. He also helped his team win the 72nd Grey Cup, their first victory since 1962.

Career regular season rushing statistics CFL statistics Rushing Year Team GP Rush Yards Y/R Lg TD Winnipeg Blue Bombers 9 164 898 5.5 75 9 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 16 304 1733 5.7 68 14 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 16 267 1323 5.0 68 9 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 6 104 498 4.8 27 3 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 15 271 1471 5.4 69 9 Washington Redskins 2 1 −1 −1.0 −1 0 Miami Dolphins 1 - - - - - CFL totals 62 1110 5923 5.3 75 44

Political career In October 2021, Reaves was announced as the Manitoba Liberal Party's candidate in the 2022 Fort Whyte by-election to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Reaves ultimately lost to Progressive Conservative candidate and fellow former Blue Bomber, Obby Khan. Reaves was defeated by Khan in a rematch in the 2023 Manitoba general election. He stepped down from that position a few months later on June 26, 2024.

On September 7, 2025, he announced his run for leader of the Manitoba Liberals, being endorsed by former MLP leader Jon Gerrard. He was acclaimed as leader on September 29, 2025.

Reaves is the great-great-grandson of Bass Reeves, a former slave who was the first black lawman west of the Mississippi River and among the first black U.S. deputy marshalls; Reeves' life is the focus of the 2023 TV series Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Bass served as a deputy U.S. marshal in Fort Smith, Arkansas, under the direction of judge Isaac C. Parker, known as the "Hanging Judge".

Electoral record