Ed Reed: Career retrospective

Ed Reed grew up in Louisiana and pursued his athletic dreams at Destrehan High School. He was a three-sport athlete for the Destrehan Fighting Wildcats, playing football, track and basketball during his high school career. In football, he earned All-State honors as a defensive back and kick returner. His best year came in his senior season. Reed finished the campaign with 83 tackles, seven interceptions and 12 passes defensed. His standout performance earned him offers from LSU, Tulane and Miami University.

In the end, Reed committed to The University of Miami. He would go on to continue the Miami Hurricanes’ tradition of smashmouth football and hard-hitting defenses. A redshirt in 1997, he became a starter in 1998 and the unsung leader of the unit by 1999. He earned Consensus All-American honors after an outstanding season in 2000. But it was the 2001 season that Reed and the Hurricanes would etch their name into college football history.

Under first-year head coach Larry Coker, the Hurricanes went 12-0 (7-0 Big East). They blew out Nebraska in the BCS National Championship Game by a convincing score of 37-14. The 2001 Hurricanes made some serious noise. The champs outscored their opponents 512-117. They’re regarded as the greatest college football team of all time by analysts and fans alike. 

Reed blew up for 44 tackles, nine interceptions and 18 passes defensed. The Hurricanes led the entire nation with 45 takeaways (27 interceptions, 18 fumble recoveries). Reed was the leader of a championship team that featured the likes of Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, Jonathan Vilma, Vince Wilfork, Andre Johnson, Jeremy Shockey, Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore and Ken Dorsey.

Known as much for their college team success as their individual success in the NFL, every one of them moved on from Miami and became NFL starters. Reed, Wilfork, Gore and Johnson are locks for the Hall of Fame and Sean Taylor’s tragedy-shortened career is deserving of consideration.

One of the finest defensive players in college football, NFL teams were practically foaming from the mouth for a chance to draft Ed Reed. The kid from Louisiana was simply electric at Miami. The Baltimore Ravens were lucky to land the blue-chip prospect with the 24th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. Reed would give his all to the team that drafted him.

It didn’t take long before Reed saw action with the Ravens. In 15 starts as a rookie, Reed dished out 85 tackles, five interceptions and 12 passes defended. His best game of the season came against the Cincinnati Bengals in a November matchup. Reed had five tackles and two interceptions in the 38-27 victory. He made the PFWA All-Rookie Team when it was all said and done.

Reed capitalized on his solid rookie season and delivered in his sophomore campaign. Reed racked up 71 tackles, seven interceptions and 15 passes defensed over the 2003 season. A rising star in the league, Reed earned his first Pro Bowl nod. It was the first of nine trips to Hawaii for the Ravens legend.

2004 was a great year for Reed. He set the tone with 78 tackles, a league-leading nine interceptions, 17 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two sacks. He returned one of his interceptions for a 106-yard pick-six! Reed’s breakout season earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors. It was the first time a safety won Defensive Player of the Year in 20 years.

In a Week 12 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008. Reed intercepted Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb’s pass and returned it 108 yards for a pick-six. It would go down as one of the longest plays in NFL history.

Reed earned a reputation as a ballhawk early on in his career. And rightfully so. He led the league in interceptions three times (2004, 2008, 2010). He possessed great coverage skills and morphed into a lockdown safety. He was the last guy quarterbacks wanted to throw toward. He finished his career with 73 interceptions and eight pick-sixes (including playoffs for both).

Reed was the rare defensive player who knew what to do with the ball in his hands. Most defensive players intercept a pass or recover a fumble and fall right to the ground so their offense can take the reins. Reed was a different animal. He wasn’t afraid to take the ball to the house. He was always a threat to come out of nowhere and make a big play. It was as if he had the skill of a wide receiver trapped in a safeties body. Reed is the all-time leader in interception return yards with 1,590 yards.

One of the premier safeties in football, Reed was awarded as such when he was named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team in 2009. No safety put fear into an offense quite like Reed in the 00s. He had to be accounted for on every single play. Reed soared his way to 342 tackles, 43 interceptions, five pick-sixes and 91 passes defensed in the 2000s.

Reed was the premier safety in football heading into the 2012 season. But there was one credential missing on his resume: a Super Bowl ring. At 34 years old, his championship window was closing. It was do-or-die for Reed.

2012 was a year of adversity for the Ravens. NFL legend Ray Lewis and pass rusher Terrell Suggs were injured for most of the regular season, along with linebacker Jameel McClain and cornerback Ladarius Webb. Longtime Ravens owner Art Modell had passed away in September. Regardless of all the injury and heartbreak, the Ravens rallied to a 10-6 record and made the playoffs.

They plowed through rookie quarterback Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card and beat Peyton Manning’s Broncos in a double-overtime thriller that became one of the greatest games of the era. They pushed past the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick Patriots in the middle of their dynasty for the Ravens’ first Super Bowl berth since 2000. Ed Reed and the Ravens were going to the Super Bowl!

The San Francisco 49ers faced the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. It was the first time in Super Bowl history that two brothers were coaching against each other in a Super Bowl. Jim Harbaugh was the head coach of the 49ers and John Harbaugh was the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Super Bowl XLVII was given the nickname The Harbaugh Bowl. Or The Blackout Game. 

Whatever nickname you prefer to call the game, Reed showed up with five tackles and an interception in a close 34-31 victory over the 49ers. The Ravens were Super Bowl champions! In linebacker Ray Lewis’ last season, the Ravens pulled it off with a banged-up roster.

The duo of Ed Reed and Ray Lewis dominated the league from the minute the two met. Known as two of the hardest hitters in the league, there was a fearsome aura surrounding this team during their time together. They consistently ranked among the best defenses and scared opposing teams into submission. Half of their hits would be illegal today.

Reed wasn’t finished yet. After mulling over retirement, Reed tested the free-agent waters and signed with the Houston Texans. In his first game with the Texans, it was evident Father Time was creeping up on the star safety. He was benched midway through the season and released after starting in just five games.

The New York Jets signed Reed shortly after his departure with the Texans. He was reunited with Rex Ryan, his defensive coordinator back in the Baltimore days, who was now the Jets head coach. Reed posted 22 tackles and three interceptions in Gang Green. As the curtain closed on his legendary career, Reed gave us one last show.

Reed retired with nothing left in the tank. Numerous injuries and the toll of all the hard hits he dished out over the years were catching up with him. It was time. Reed hung up the cleats and never played the game again. Reed retired as one of the most exciting players in league history.

It is often said a Raven is an omen of death. And like a Raven perched on a tree in a cemetery at night, Reed roamed freely in the middle of the field, waiting to lay the boom on his next prey. The last line of defense on his team, Reed never let anyone get behind him in coverage, and he obliterated the ones in front of him.

Over his 11 years in the Charm City, Reed lined up as a safety, punt returner and as the end on the punt return team. He was the heart and soul of those Ravens teams that played deep into January. While Reed suited up for two other teams in his storied career, he will always be a Raven for life. 

The Ravens were named after a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. If the late writer ever got to watch Reed’s Ravens play, we like to think he’d nod his head in approval. Reed exemplified what it means to be a Raven.

As you may assume, Ed Reed has an impressive trophy shelf. He went to nine Pro Bowls, won Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and was named to the 00s All-Decade Team and the All-Century Team. To top it all off, he won the Super Bowl! You can’t ask for a better resume as a safety. That’s why Canton came calling for the ballhawk from Baltimore.

Reed was enshrined into the halls of Canton as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2019. This distinction left no question that Reed was among the very best to ever play the position.

Fun fact: Reed is tied for first all-time in postseason interceptions with nine. The other guys are Ronnie Lott, Bill Simpson and Charlie Waters. That’s some impressive company.

The NFL wanted to honor its 100th anniversary by assembling the All-Century Team. The legendary roster would feature the greatest of all time. Reed was selected for the team. The other safeties on the team are Ronnie Lott, Jack Christiansen, Ken Houston, Emlen Tunnell and Larry Wilson. During the selection process, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Reed made the “best play he’s ever seen a free safety make.”

Since retiring, Reed has stayed in the loop of what’s going on in football. He took his first coaching job as the Buffalo Bills assistant defensive backs coach in 2016. It was his first and only coaching gig… so far. Most recently, he was hired as chief of staff for the Miami Hurricanes football team. Reed is taking the time to show the future generation how it’s done. Don’t be surprised if he moves up the coaching ranks in the future.