New owner visits Bobby Bowden’s home for first time, legacy still felt

Walking through Bobby Bowden’s Killearn Estates home for the first time, Reagan Hobbs said it was nearly impossible to focus on the house itself. Everywhere Hobbs looked, there was history — and a tag. “There was memorabilia everywhere,” Hobbs told the Tallahassee Democrat.

“I got into a whole nostalgic mode seeing different awards — the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year, keys to cities, autographed items. Everywhere you looked, there was a tag on something that was going to be auctioned off. ” Hobbs, 52, a Tallahassee resident and 1995 Florida State graduate, made news March 17 when he emerged as the winning bidder of Bowden's home at $670,000 as the real estate portion of the Bobby Bowden Legacy Auction closed Tuesday night.

With a 10% buyer’s premium, the final sale price totaled $737,000. The two‑week auction, managed by Wiregrass Auction Group of Thomasville, Georgia, concluded Wednesday, March 18. By the time bidding wound down , nearly 1,925 registered bidders had participated, placing more than 33,000 bids across 1,568 items, with only seven lots failing to receive a single bid.

Those with winning bids began collecting their purchases, which included items in the home, Thursday from the house. Reagan Hobbs visits Bowden's home for first time Hobbs, meanwhile, purchased the house without ever stepping inside it — until Thursday morning, March 19. Bowden bought the home, built in 1971, for $113,500 in 1976 when he became head coach of the Seminoles, according to Leon County Property Appraiser records.