One of the greatest safeties in NFL history has decided to call it quits, as Ed Reed has officially retired.

The Baltimore Ravens confirmed the news on Wednesday:


Reed spent 12 years in the NFL, 11 of them with the Baltimore Ravens, the team he won a Super Bowl title with in 2012. Reed played for both the Houston Texans and New York Jets in 2013, though he was out of the NFL in 2014.

He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, five-time first-team All-NFL selection by The Associated Press and finished his career with 64 interceptions (sixth all-time), 13 non-offensive touchdowns (fifth) and 1,590 interception yards (first). He was also the 2004 AP Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in interceptions three times (2004, 2008, 2009).

Few players had better instincts than Reed, and few defensive players in NFL history were more dangerous with the ball in their hands after a turnover. Alongside Ray Lewis, he led the Ravens to the playoffs seven times in his career.

He's almost assuredly a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and he most assuredly belongs in the conversation about which player was the greatest safety in NFL history.

it was funny they interviewed ronnie lott a while back and asked him which safety played the most like him (out of the current NFL safties which included reed polamalu dawkins and others)

and ronnie lott said "i wish i had the ball skills of ed reed when i was playing"

that is pretty much the biggest compliment you can get as a safety