‘Incredible,’ ‘My Heart Breaks for Him’ — CFB World Moved As Yale’s Dante Reno Honors His Late Father With 4-TD, 298-Yard Display vs. Merrimack
· Yahoo Sports
It was a day of mixed emotions for Dante Reno. The Yale Bulldogs QB delivered a strong performance, going 22-of-39 for 298 yards and four touchdowns to lead a 41-24 win over the Merrimack College Warriors. He also had five carries for 39 rushing yards.
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But the performance came just one day after he lost his father, former Yale head coach Tony Reno. The 52-year-old died after being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and serious neurodegenerative illness.
Despite the pain of losing his dad, Reno showed up for Yale when his team needed him most. His performance drew an outpouring of support from CFB analysts, who consoled him and sent messages of encouragement.
CFB World Rallies Around Dante Reno After Emotional 4-TD Performance
Following the game, Reno posted a heartfelt message on X, dedicating Yale’s win and his impressive performance to his late father.
“This one’s for you, Pops,” the young QB wrote in response to a post from Pete Thamel, who praised him for his performance just one day after the devastating news.
CFB reporters and insiders showed their support for the Yale QB in the aftermath of a solid win. The Athletic’s Ralph D. Russo wrote, “Incredible performance for Dante Reno, playing just days after the death of his father, former Yale coach Tony Reno.”
247Sports analyst Brian Dohn posted a heartfelt tweet sharing Reno’s journey. “Dante Reno left South Carolina to play for his dad at Yale. He did that last season before his dad took a leave of absence. His dad, Tony, passed away this week.”
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“Dante threw for 298 and four TDs today in a win. He is from a great family. His dad is surely smiling down today. Say a prayer for all of them,” Dohn added.
CFB podcaster Cameron Smith hailed Reno as the perfect team player. “My heart breaks for him and his family. Prayers for the Reno family,” Smith added.
Two-time Emmy Award-winning sports anchor Mike Uva tweeted that he’s proud of the Yale QB. “You have an entire army behind you, not just today,” he further said.
Yale Football also shared a heartfelt tribute to the late coach. “Prior to the start of today’s game, the Yale Athletics community honored Coach Tony Reno,” the team wrote, sharing a video featuring tributes to Reno from the Yale community.
At present, the 22-year-old QB has an impressive 88.7 grade in PFN’s College Quarterback Impact Metric. He has recorded 752 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, and one interception so far this season.
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Tony Reno coached his son in 2025 before stepping down in February 2026, citing health reasons. He led Yale from 2012 through 2025, winning five Ivy League titles during his tenure.
He also ranks second in Yale history with 83 wins. Carm Cozza holds the program record with 179 career victories as head coach.
While Yale has lost a coaching legend, there is some comfort in knowing his son is now leading the Bulldogs at QB and carrying his father’s legacy forward.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.