Seeing double: Riders’ twin linebackers excited to reunite in Saskatchewan

You might think you’re seeing double when you’re watching the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

But you don’t need to book an eye appointment if you’ve noticed two Herdman-Reeds on the field.

Justin and Jordan Herdman-Reed are identical twin linebackers who both signed with the Green and White for the 2021 season.

“We have separate agents but they work for the same company so it’s really easy to work together. We were both free agents at the time and we knew we wanted to play together and this was the first opportunity that we had to make that happen,” said Justin, the younger of the two by just a couple minutes. “We said, ‘Let’s see what teams are interested in having us both come on’ and Saskatchewan was one of the few teams that were really interested in that happening.

“We’re just thankful that that was actually even a possibility because it’s rare to have both of us on the same (professional) team.”

And while they’re becoming valuable members of the Green and White, head coach Craig Dickenson admits he’s gotten the brothers mixed up a few times.

“There’s no question I’ve gotten them confused; I don’t know anyone who hasn’t. Those Herdman-Reed brothers are always doing something. They seem to be always together so you never really see one without the other,” Dickenson said. “I don’t think I’ve met two young men that care more or work harder at football.”

It was a family reunion of sorts for the brothers, who spent their entire lives together until the CFL draft saw them go to opposite ends of the country – Jordan with the B.C. Lions and Justin with the Toronto Argonauts.

The twins were born in Winnipeg, a place their parents still call home to this day.

While they didn’t use the fact they are twins to perform any pranks on some unexpecting teachers, the two did take full advantage of having someone from their home in the same classes.

“We would pick the same classes and sometimes if I didn’t feel like writing notes one day, I would get my brother to write notes for me and we would take turns,” Jordan said.

They both started playing football when they were 10 years old and always played on the same team growing up.

“It’s an advantage to have a teammate that you know can hold you accountable. You know everything they’re thinking and can trust they are going to in that spot at that time,” Jordan said. “I think it’s just a great advantage and very fortunate to have an opportunity to play with him.”

“It’s just fun. We love playing football but to have your brother out there with you, it makes it 10 times better,” Justin said.

They had a great role model to follow – their dad James Reed played as a linebacker in the NFL and CFL with stints with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Montreal Alouettes, Argonauts and Roughriders.

“It was great. It definitely gave us a huge advantage. At a young age we would talk all the proper techniques when it came to tackling and footwork, things that helped us excel at an early age,” Justin said. “(It) definitely helped pave the way to where we are at now. (We’re) very thankful and it is definitely rare to have a parent who played professional football.”
The brothers played at Simon Fraser University, where both excelled. Jordan was even invited to play in the Senior Bowl game in front of NFL scouts.

“During that time I felt like I had an opportunity to play professional football. It was always my dream to do that but I guess I didn’t realize until we got to college and started doing well and go to combines where we were like, ‘Man, our dreams are coming true. They’re starting to happen,’” Jordan said.

But their time as teammates came to an end at the 2017 CFL draft, with the Argos taking Justin 54th overall  just a few picks before the Lions took Jordan 60th overall.

“That was going to be very different for us. We had been together all our lives and we hadn’t been apart for longer than maybe a couple days before that point so we were always together,” Jordan said. “It was definitely a little weird at first but I think we needed that because we could grow and continue to become our own kind of person.

“Now that we’re back together, we can really appreciate it even more and have this opportunity to come back and play together.”

During their CFL careers, both have been contributors for the defence and on special teams. Jordan has recorded 95 defensive tackles and three sacks to go along with 45 special-teams tackles in his career. Meanwhile, Justin has recorded 43 tackles, two sacks and 27 special-teams tackles.

Now the two will look to help the Riders beat their hometown Blue Bombers in the Banjo Bowl. The Bombers emerged victorious in the Labour Day Classic 23-8 last weekend. Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 2 p.m.

“I think when I was younger I didn’t know too much about what was going on (at the Banjo Bowl), I was just happy to be at the game and eating popcorn,” Jordan said. “It’s a big game and especially out in Winnipeg, that’s what they live for. Everybody gets all excited and it’s loud. I’m really excited for it. Every game is important but I think this game has a little more juice in it.
“I know a lot of my family members are hardcore Bomber fans so I know when they put on that green (jersey) on game day, they are going to be hurting a little bit inside but I know they’re going to be happy and proud.”