NFL Power Rankings: 30 Greatest Defensive Players Of All-Time
By Robby Sabo
30. Ed Reed, S
- Baltimore Ravens (2002-12), Houston Texans (2013), New York Jets (2013)
- 2004 Defensive POY / 2012 Super Bowl Champion / 5-Time 1st Team All-Pro
Why it always shakes down like this I’ll never know, but when discussing the greatest all-time defensive players in NFL history the men upfront are usually higher on the list.
Ed Reed makes our No. 30 spot as one of the few true safeties on this list.
The younger generation was fortunate to watch him roam the deep middle third of the Baltimore Ravens defense for a decade. Perhaps nobody in the game’s history roamed the middle-third as spectacularly as Reed.
Reed collected 64 career interceptions which ranks him sixth all-time. He also has an insane nine career defensive touchdowns.
Reed’s best attribute was his mind. Nobody had a knack for being in the right spot at the right time.
Anticipation and a nose for the ball is what the safety position is all about. Nobody did it better than Ed Reed.
Next: Number 29