Ed Reed went elsewhere to finish his career, but he will forever be remembered as a Baltimore Ravens legend. Fittingly, he announced his retirement as a member of the Ravens on Thursday.
The Ravens summoned everyone to a press conference with their top officials, sending a moment of worries through a fanbase that has endured plenty of offseason adventures. But word soon got out that the “significant announcement” was the retirement of one of the game’s all-time great defensive backs.
The New Orleans native joined the Ravens in 2002, and finally won a Super Bowl ten years later. Along with 64 career interceptions, he also put points on the board, scoring 14 touchdowns. But as ESPN’s Jamison Hensley points out, the stats don’t tell the full story of Reed’s greatness. He was impossible to read on the field, always entertaining and with Ray Lewis formed the bedrock of the Ravens’ identity as a team.
Fittingly, no. 20 retires in the Ravens’ 20th year. And he’ll take a place in the team’s Ring of Honor in November.
