Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Reggie Tongue

Reggie Tongue of Fairbanks led the NCAA and tied a Pac-10 Conference record with three interception return touchdowns in 1994 with Oregon State University.

The 6-foot, 204-pound junior defensive back moved to free safety that season and hauled in a career-high five interceptions and was selected Second Team All-Pac-10.

Oregon State finished 4-7 with Tongue playing a huge role in two wins.

In a 44-31 victory over Wyoming he returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns, including a 36-yard pick-six in the final two minutes.

In a 21-3 upset win over No. 24 Washington State he had a 47-yard interception return for a score.

Tongue, of Lathrop High fame, finished his Oregon State career with nine interceptions and three interceptions returned for touchdowns.

He was named First-Team All-Pac-10 in 1995 and still ranks No. 2 in school history with 362 career tackles.

Tongue’s knack for finding the end zone continued during his 10 seasons in the NFL as he scored five touchdowns on four interception returns and one fumble return. One of those TDs came on a pick-six against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2004 playoffs when he was with the New York Jets.

From 1996 to 2005, Tongue grabbed 17 career interceptions in the NFL (15 in regular season, 2 in the postseason). He ranks No. 1 in interceptions among Alaskans to play in the league and his 145 career games is No. 3 among Alaskans.

He ranked No. 14 on the Sports Illustrated list of Alaska’s 50 greatest sports figures of the 20th century.

Friday Flashback is a series created by Alaska Sports Hall of Fame blog editor Van Williams that looks back on great Alaska athletes from the past. To read about other Alaskans featured in this series, click here.