Fansided
Ebony Bird

Pro Football Hall of Fame: Ed Reed should be first-ballot

By Richard Bradshaw

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with the VInce Lombardi trophy after the Ravens won 34-31 against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with the VInce Lombardi trophy after the Ravens won 34-31 against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Baltimore Ravens are 2-2 on first-ballot Hall of Fame inductions in Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis, and there’s no reason Ed Reed shouldn’t join them.

I’m not gonna sit here and pretend that Ravens Flock doesn’t know who Ed Reed is, but just in case someone reading this is unaware… Ed Reed is the greatest safety to ever play the game of football. Ronnie Lott is the only safety I would even listen to an argument for, but Reed has more than a respectable resume to his name for this claim.

Reed was never the tackling machine that other safeties such as Lott or Steve Atwater were, but there was something that Reed was simply better at than any other safety in NFL history: his ball-skills. Ed Reed is known as the greatest ball-hawk of all-time. It always seemed like wherever the football was, Reed was right there with it. 64 career interceptions (61 with Baltimore) should be more than enough to back up Reed’s claim as the GOAT.

Lamar Jackson: What a successful 2019 could look like. light. Must Read

It wasn’t just the interceptions that made Reed so great, it was what he did with the ball in his hands afterwards. Ask Jeff Garcia and the Cleveland Browns about Reed’s once-record setting 106-yard interception return. Better yet, ask Kevin Kolb and the Philadelphia Eagles about Reed’s current NFL record 107-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Even beyond those two remarkable pick-sixes, Reed managed to record 13 touchdowns in his NFL career, as well as a safety, to give him 80 career scored points as a defensive player. Sheesh! Ed Reed’s 1,590 interception return yards are first all-time in NFL history by a sizable margin. Considering the next closest to Reed is current NFL Hall of Famer Rod Woodson (a member of the vaunted 2000 Ravens defense) is still off by over 100-yards, this record seems pretty untouchable.

Ed Reed’s 2004 season is one of the greatest ever for a safety, as the then-26-year old safety recorded a league high nine interceptions, including his 106-yard pick-six vs. the Browns, while also breaking up 17 passes. Reed also forced three fumbles and recovered two, with one going for another touchdown. The cherry on top of it all was Reed’s 76 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and 6.0 TFLs. Naturally, this insane season granted him NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Yes indeed, from top-to-bottom, Ed Reed stacks up well against any player in this upcoming Hall of Fame class, let alone the other safeties. Reed has nine Pro Bowl selections, eight All-Pro nods (five First-Team, three Second-Team), a Defensive Player of the Year award, and led the league in interceptions three separate times. Oh, and for anyone who cares, Ed Reed also has a Super Bowl ring.

Next. Baltimore Ravens: Running backs to target for Lamar Jackson. dark

When Saturday has come and gone and the NFL honors have all been handed out, we should be congratulating Ed Reed on his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This honor is one of the most prestigious in all of sports, and Reed earned his spot long ago. Because of what he did in his time, Reed should undoubtedly be a first-ballot selection. No matter what, Ed Reed will always be considered one of the greatest defensive players of all-time by anyone who knows anything about football.

Home/Ravens News