With an impressive sixty-four interceptions in his 174 career games, Edward (Ed ) Earl Reed Jr. was recently inducted as a pro football hall of famer in Canton, Ohio. Reed spent the majority of his career as a dominating free safety with the Baltimore Ravens, where he earned a Super Bowl Championship ring in 2012. Although he officially retired in 2015, the impact that he still has on the game of football is a major reason as to why he was selected as a first ballot hall of famer. Reed devoted eleven out of his twelve seasons in the NFL with the Ravens where he was selected 9x to the Pro Bowl, played in fifteen playoff games, and holds several team records. Inspired by former teammates such as Class of 2018 Hall of Famer Inductee Ray Lewis and Seventeen year NFL Player Terrell Suggs , who played with the Ravens for sixteen seasons; Reed was able to motivate and encourage the younger players in the league. Although he came from humble beginnings at Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana, Reed immediately made his mark at the University at Miami where he was recognized as a two-time census All-American . There, he was able to set the precedence that led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yet, his greatness does not stop there. Reed has subsequently turned his love for football into a dedication and passion for social change. During the Hall of Fame ceremony Reed was spotted wearing paraphernalia that featured all of the unarmed young African American men and women that were killed by the police. Consequently, beyond football Ed Reed has been able to make a lasting impact that will essentially change the world.
Photo by: Perry Knots-AP
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