Ed Reed - New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2019

Описание: Throughout his 12-year playing career, Ed Reed always seemed to know exactly where he was supposed to be.

His highlight reel is proof of that, showing him get to the right place to make big play after big play, interception after interception, and contributing a few amazing kick returns for good measure. All document the stellar athleticism Reed possessed from his days as multi-purpose athlete at Destrehan High School through 12 seasons in the National Football League.

Now that his playing days are over, Reed is still ending up right where he is supposed to be, alongside other great athletes in halls of distinction. In 2012 Reed was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017 he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Last October he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Last week, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and, tonight he returns home to be enshrined in the Allstate Sugar Bowl New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.

It has been a whirlwind of memorable nights for the River Parishes native.

“It’s been awesome,” said Reed. “It’s been a little tiring, but it’s been great. I really haven’t had a chance to soak it all in yet. I’m really enjoying just going through it. To me, it’s more about those who have helped me. Them being proud to see what they really had their hand in, that matters to me.”

Over four years at Destrehan High School, he lined up at quarterback, wide receiver, running back, punter, punt and kick returner and defensive back. He also was a standout player in baseball, basketball and track, where he was an excellent triple jumper, javelin thrower and ran on a state champion 4x100 relay team.

But Reed excelled at defensive back, earning all-state honors and earning a scholarship to play at the University of Miami. Johnson lured Reed to the Sunshine State where Reed continued to make a name for himself on the way to winning a National Championship in 2001.

Reed finished his Hurricane career with a school-record 21 interceptions and was a Consensus All-American in 2001 and 2002. He also keyed the ’Canes 2001 national championship. A two-time All-Big East selection, Reed was also selected as the 2001 National Defensive Player of the Year by the Football News. He also won the javelin competition at the 1999 Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

After being selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens (24th overall), Reed went on to play 12 spectacular seasons in which he was selected first-team All-Pro five times and was elected to the Pro Bowl nine times. He had 64 career interceptions (seventh on the NFL’s all-time list), with seven touchdowns. He also broke up 141 passes in 174 games and had 13 fumble recoveries and 11 forced fumbles.

He is still the NFL’s leader in interception return yards with 1,590 and holds the record for the longest interception return, a 107-yard return in 2008 against Philadelphia, which broke the previous record of 106 yards set in 2004 – by Reed.

Meanwhile, Reed is doing his best to bring his fans and friends along with him on his post-career journey through the various halls of fame.

“I try to bring joy to those who know me,” he said. “I try to keep them on the journey because a lot them were on the journey, you know. A lot of them were with me. I want to show that appreciation. It matters to me that everybody can see it now and I can bring that joy.”

Story by Lori Lyons of the New Orleans Sports Awards Committee.