A Tribute To The Greatest Safety Who Ever Played The Game Of Football, Ed Reed

After over a decade of world-class football, Ed Reed is finally calling it quits today. Yeah it’s a couple years too late, but it doesn’t diminish what he did for 11 years in the purple and black. He dominated. Most instinctual football player I think any of us will ever see. Even when he lost a step in his later years, he was able to make plays just by following his instincts. He was always around the football. Week in and week out, the number one objective of opposing offensive coordinators was “Always know where #20 is”. The respect and admiration from some of the present days’ most legendary figures says it all:

Peyton Manning: Manning thought a Baltimore reporter called Ed Reed “one of” the NFL’s best safeties.

“I was going to correct you,” Manning said. “He is the best safety in the league, and has been really for this past decade. Shoot, you can kind of go on and on: unbelievable ball skills, unbelievable range, great hands. You can tell what kind of athlete he is because of what he’s done once he’s got the ball in his hands, returning them for touchdowns. Smart player, the list goes on and on.”

Tom Brady: “He’s pretty much ingrained permanently in my mind. He’s such a playmaker for them, and he shows up in a lot of different spots.”

Even more telling is the message Brady wrote on his wristband every time he faced Reed:

Bill Belichick: “He’s the best weak safety I’ve seen since I’ve been in the National Football League in my career. He’s outstanding at pretty much everything.” … “He’s had fabulous production at whatever he’s done, including blocking kicks and returning kicks and things like that. His interceptions, his interception return yardages, his instinctiveness and his play-making ability, how consistent he’s been over time. He just does things that nobody else at that position does or I don’t know if they’ve ever done it. He’s special. He’s really special.”

I’ve never seen Belichick gush over an opposing player like he did with Reed…

8 All-Pro selections. Would’ve been 9 straight if he hadn’t suffered a high ankle sprain in 2005. 6th all-time in interceptions. Tied for most in playoff history. Most interception return yards of all-time. 2004 Defensive Player of the Year. National Champion. Super Bowl Champion. Fantastic resume for a fantastic player.

But the reason Ed Reed was my favorite football player ever was how dynamic a playmaker he was with the football in his hands. When he picked a ball off, all bets were off. It was an absolute blast of adrenaline. Anything could happen. He’d palm the ball wrecklessly like MJ pre-fadeaway as he dodged tackles left and right. He might house it. He might lateral it. He might fumble it away and leave you feeling like you were just dealt a 2 on a double-down. It was incredible to watch. And he always played with unbelievable heart and passion. So here’s to you Ed Reed. Baltimore thanks you.