Safety Ed Reed called it a career on Thursday. He signed a one-day contract to retire as a Baltimore Raven. Reed played 12 years in the NFL with three teams. Let’s look back at the career of Ed Reed.
Reed was selected in the first round, 24th overall in the 2002 draft. In his rookie year, he made an immediate impact. He saw action in all 16 games. In those games he had 5 interceptions. He would stay with the Ravens for the next 11 seasons. His worst year with the Ravens was in 2005 when he only appeared in 10 games due to an ankle injury. He only had one interception, which was the lowest of his career in Baltimore. At the end of the 2012, Reed decided to play elsewhere.
Reed signed a 3 year, $15 million contract with the Houston Texans in 2013. Only $5 million was guaranteed. He also underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a small tear in his hip. Reed saw action in 7 games. During the season, his playing time was reduced and he eventually lost his starting job to safety Shiloh Keo. The Texans had no choice but to release him. He didn’t have an interception with Houston. Once he cleared waivers, the New York Jets signed him. He played in the last 7 games with New York. He had three interceptions with the Jets. Last year, he didn’t play a down of football. He decided it was time to retire.
Reed is one of the best safeties to ever play the game. He went to the Pro Bowl 9 times. He led the league in interceptions 3 times. In 2004 he was named AFC Defensive Player Of The Year. The NFL voted him onto the 2000 All-Decade Team. He is 6th on the all-time interceptions list with 64. A quarterback could never throw the ball on his side of the field without the risk that the ball would be picked off. Reed was also a solid tackler with 531 tackles. He owns one Super Bowl Ring.
Reed is number one for career interception return yards with 1,590. He also has the longest interception return in NFL history. In 2008, he picked off Philadelphia’s Donavan McNabb in the end zone and ran it back 108 yards for a touchdown.
The voters of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame should put him in on the first-ballot. This should occur in 2020. His work in 12 years has proven he is a Hall Of Fame Player. If he doesn’t make it on his first year, he certainly should make it after that. It’s only of matter of time before his name is announced to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
Will Ed Reed be a first-ballot Hall Of Famer?
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