Ed Reed

Edward Earl Reed, Jr. (born September 11, 1978) is an American football free safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Miami, and was a two-time All-American. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens 24th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, and has played his entire professional career for the Ravens.

In his career, Reed has been selected to eight Pro Bowls, was the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, and has the NFL record for the two longest interception returns (106 yards in 2004 and 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." Since entering the league, Reed has been known for studying film to memorize opposing teams' tendencies, as well as his ability to lure quarterbacks into throwing interceptions.

Early years
Reed was born in St. Rose, Louisiana. He attended the Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana. 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.

He 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 also lettered in basketball, baseball, and track & field. He was an all-district pitcher selection in baseball, and state champion in the javelin throw.

College career
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 1998 to 2001. He played for the Hurricanes team that won the 2001 National Championship.

Reed was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 2000, and a unanimous firs-team All-American in 2001. In 2001, he led the nation with nine interceptions for 209 yards (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' 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 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 five. He also blocked four punts during his four year career. In addition, Reed 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 future Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne were roommates throughout their time at the University of Miami. He graduated in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Reed was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2012 at a banquet held in Miami on March 29, 2012.

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, one sack and five interceptions. The following year he finished the season with 71 tackles and seven interceptions and was 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 nine 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 and finished the campaign with 37 tackles and one interception. In 2006, Reed recorded 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 has continued his strong special teams 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.

Reed currently holds the Ravens franchise record for career interceptions with 57. He also holds the franchise record for interception-return yards in a single game with 150. During a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 23, 2008, Reed returned an interception for what was originally reported as an 108 yard touchdown return (later officially adjusted to 107 yards by the Elias Sports Bureau). This set an NFL record, breaking his own record of 106 yards. The ball he intercepted and the jersey he wore during the play are now in the Hall of Fame. In the Ravens' 2008 AFC Wild Card game against the Miami Dolphins, Reed intercepted Chad Pennington twice, returning one for a touchdown. To date, he has 8 interceptions in 10 career post-season games. In 2010, Reed led the NFL in interceptions with 8, despite only playing in 10 games due to hip surgery.

Reed was the only player unanimously voted onto the AP 2008 NFL All-Pro team. In 2009, Reed was selected to the Sporting News'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.

In week 1 of the 2011 NFL Season, Reed recorded two interceptions against Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, passing Ronnie Lott for most games with multiple interceptions.

NFL Records

 * Longest Interception Return for Touchdown (108 yards)

Ravens franchise records

 * Most career interceptions (57)
 * Most career interception return yards (1,463)
 * Most career interception return touchdowns (6)
 * Most passes defended (122)