Ed Reed

His 64 regular season interceptions ranked him 6th on the NFL's all-time leader list at the time of his retirement.

Reed is considered to be one of the greatest safeties in NFL history, and was often referred to as a "ball hawk" during his prime.

Reed was known for studying film to memorize opposing teams' tendencies, as well as his ability to lure quarterbacks into throwing interceptions.

Edward Earl Reed Jr. (born September 11, 1978) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL), spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Ravens.

Reed was born in St. Rose, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, on September 11, 1978.

He attended Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana.

With the Fighting Wildcats football team, he was an all-state selection at defensive back and as a kick returner and also the New Orleans Times-Picayune District Most Valuable Defensive Player.

Reed totaled 83 tackles, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles and 12 passes deflected in his senior year while also seeing action at running back and quarterback.

He also returned three punts for touchdowns.

Reed's jersey number 20 was retired by the football

team.

Reed also played basketball, baseball, and track & field.

In addition to football, Reed was a standout track athlete at Destrehan High School.

He was a member of the state champion 4 × 100 meters relay squad.

He set a high school record throw of 56.94 m in the javelin throw.

Also a standout performer in the long jump and triple jump, he recorded personal bests in high school of over 24 ft and over 46 ft, respectively.

Reed received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami, where he was a standout defensive back for coach Butch Davis and coach Larry Coker's Miami Hurricanes football teams from 1997 to 2001.

After redshirting in the 1997 season, Reed led the team with two interceptions and four forced fumbles in the 1998 season.

He had two more interceptions in the 1999 season.

While in college, Reed joined the Miami Hurricanes track and field team in 2000, where he competed as a jumper and javelin thrower.

He placed 7th in the triple jump at the 2000 Big East Championships, setting a career-best jump of 14.58 m. In addition, he finished 3rd in the javelin throw, with a personal-best throw of 60.08 m.

Reed was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in the 2000 season, and a unanimous first-team All-American in the 2001 season.

He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he played on Miami's 2001 national championship team and was named a unanimous All-American.

Reed was a member of the Hurricane's 2001 National Championship team.

In 2001, he led the nation with nine interceptions for 209 yards, which was a school record, and three touchdowns.

He helped seal a memorable win over Boston College in 2001 when he grabbed the ball out of teammate Matt Walters's hands, who had just intercepted it, and raced 80 yards for a touchdown.

Reed was honored as the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2001, and was named National Defensive Player of the Year by Football News.

He was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and was a semifinalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Reed set several records during his time at the University of Miami.

He holds the record for career interceptions with 21, career interception return yards with 389, and interceptions returned for touchdowns with five.

He also blocked four punts during his four-year career.

In addition, he was a member of the track and field team during his years at Miami and was a Big East champion in the javelin.

Reed and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne were roommates during their time at the University of Miami.

He graduated in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts.

He was selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft and played 11 seasons with them before playing with the Houston Texans and New York Jets in 2013.

During his playing career, Reed was selected to nine total Pro Bowls, he was the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, and has an NFL record for the two longest interception returns (106 yards in 2004 and 107 yards in 2008).

He also holds the all-time NFL record for interception return yards, with 1,590, and postseason interceptions (9, tied with three other players).

In 2016, Reed worked as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills.

Reed was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

In 2020, he was hired by the University of Miami, his alma mater, to serve as their football team's chief of staff, an advisory role to head coach Manny Diaz.