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Ed Reed

Ed Reed at the Ravens 2008 Training Camp.
No. 20     Baltimore Ravens
Safety
Personal information
Date of birth: September 11, 1978 (1978-09-11) (age 31)
Place of birth: St. Rose, Louisiana
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College: University of Miami
NFL Draft: 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Debuted in 2002 for the Baltimore Ravens
Career history
As player: Baltimore Ravens (2002–Present)
Career highlights and awards
6× Pro Bowl selection (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) 6× All-Pro selection (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) AP NFL Defensive Player of Year (2004) AFC Defensive Player of the Year (2004) Led the NFL in interceptions in 2004 and 2008 Led the NFL in interception yards in 2004 NFL's longest interception return (108 yards) NFL's interception yards in single-season Sporting News' Team of the Decade (2000's) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team National Football League records
Career NFL statistics as of Week 13, 2009
Tackles	459
Sacks	5.0
INTs	46
Defensive Touchdowns	6
Stats at NFL.com

Edward Earl Reed Jr. (born September 11, 1978 in St. Rose, Louisiana) is an American football Free Safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens 24th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.

In his career, Reed has been selected to six Pro Bowls (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and was the 2004 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and holds the NFL record for longest interception return (108 yards in 2008). He is considered one of the most dominant safeties currently playing in the NFL and is often referred to as a "ball hawk."^[1][2][3][4] Since entering the league, Reed has been known to study film to memorize opposing teams's tendencies.^[5][6] Reed's habit of baiting quarterbacks into throwing interceptions has also earned him recognition throughout the league.^[7]

High school career

Reed attended the Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana. He was an All-State selection at defensive back and as a kick returner and also New Orleans Times-Picayune District Most Valuable Defensive Player.

He totaled 83 tackles, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles and 12 passes deflected his senior year while also seeing action at running back and quarterback. He also returned three punts for touchdowns. Reed also lettered in basketball, baseball, and track & field. He was an All-District pitcher in baseball, and state champion in the javelin.

College career

Reed attended the University of Miami where he was a standout defensive player. Reed played for the University of Miami team that won the 2001 National Championship.^[8]

At the University of Miami, Reed was a two-time consensus All-American selection in 2000 and 2001. In 2001, he led the nation with 9 picks for 209 yards (a school record) and 3 touchdowns. Reed helped seal a memorable win over Boston College in 2001 when he grabbed the ball out of teammate Matt Walters' hands, who had just intercepted it, and raced 80 yards for a touchdown.^[9] Reed earned the league's Co-Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2001 and was named National Defensive Player of the Year by Football News. He was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award and was one of 12 semifinalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Reed set several records during his time at Miami. He holds the record for career interceptions with 21, career interception return yards with 389 and interceptions returned for touchdowns with 5.^[10][11] He also blocked four punts during his four year career. Reed also participated on the track and field team during his years at Miami and was a Big East Champion in the javelin.^[12]

He graduated in 2001 with a degree in liberal arts.^[8]

Reed and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne were roommates throughout college at the University of Miami.^[13]

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

After college, Reed was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (24th overall pick) of the 2002 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Reed started in all 16 games and finished the campaign with 85 tackles and five interceptions. The following year he finished the season with 71 tackles and seven interceptions. He was also voted to his first Pro Bowl. In 2004, Reed was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. In addition to his record return, in 2004 Reed set an NFL mark for most interception return yardage in a season, accumulating 358 return yards on 9 interceptions; Reed held this record until 2009, when it was exceeded by Darren Sharper. Also in 2004, Reed became the only player in Pro Bowl history to block a punt and return it for a touchdown. In 2005, Reed only played in ten games due to an ankle injury. He finished the campaign with 37 tackles and one interception. In 2006, Reed made 60 tackles and five interceptions and was voted to his third Pro Bowl. In 2007, he made 39 tackles and seven interceptions. In the 2007 Pro Bowl he recorded two interceptions, tying the Pro Bowl record.

Reed continued his strong special teams^[14] play so far during his NFL career with 4 blocked punts, returning 3 for touchdowns, which tied an NFL record. He is also the first person in NFL history to return an interception, punt, blocked punt, and fumble for a touchdown.^{[citation needed]}

Reed currently holds the Ravens franchise record for career interceptions with 46.^[15] He also holds the franchise record for interception-return yards in a single game with 150.^[15] During a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 23, 2008, Reed returned an interception for 108 yards.^[15][16] This set an NFL record, breaking his own record of 106 yards.^[15][17] The ball he intercepted and the jersey he wore during the play are now in the Hall of Fame. ^[15][18] In the Ravens' 2009 AFC wild card game against the Miami Dolphins, Reed intercepted Chad Pennington twice, returning one for a touchdown. To date, he has 7 interceptions in 7 career post-season games.

Reed was the only player unanimously voted onto the AP 2008 NFL All-Pro team.^[19] In Sept. 2009, Reed was selected to the Sporting News Magazine's Team of the Decade (2000's).

Reed has scored a total of 13 touchdowns in his career—3 blocked punts, 1 punt return, 2 fumble returns and 7 interception returns.

References

External links

• Ed Reed at ESPN.com

• Ed Reed NFL statistics at Databasefootball.com
• Ed Reed profile at NNDB
• Ravens Player Bio
• Ed Reed halftime locker room speech at University of Miami