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NFL Hall of Fame: Ranking the players in the 2019 class of inductees

By Cody Williams

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 Harry How/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 Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NFL Hall of Fame
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 13: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos plays defense against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 13, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Jaguars 35-19. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Champ Bailey. 2. player. 45. . Cornerback. Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos

  • Played for Washington Redskins (1999-2003) and Denver Broncos (2004-13)
  • 12X Pro Bowler, 3X First-Team All-Pro, 4X Second-Team All-Pro
  • 52 career interceptions, 203 career pass defenses, 908 career tackles

Upon arrival in the NFL, it was clear that Champ Bailey was an elite cornerback. The Washington Redskins took notice of it, too. However, they made one of the most shocking decisions in league history as they allowed Bailey to pursue a trade rather than play on the franchise tag after his rookie deal expired. The Denver Broncos were the landing spot as they gave up Clinton Portis for the corner.

That trade alone could be Bailey’s legacy, if not for the fact that he continued being one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for some time. With the Broncos entering his prime, Bailey was a blanket on the outside, rarely (if ever) getting beaten and even ramping up his play in crucial situations like in the red zone.

It feels like fans sometimes forget just how good Champ Bailey was at his craft. However, he’s truly one of the best to ever play his position and his first-ballot induction stands as a testament to that.

Ravens, Texans, Jets. Ed Reed. 1. player. 26. . Safety

  • Played for Baltimore Ravens (2002-12), Houston Texans (2013) and New York Jets (2013)
  • 1X Super Bowl Champion
  • 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
  • 9X Pro Bowler, 5X First-Team All-Pro, 3X Second-Team All-Pro
  • 64 career interceptions, 139 career pass defenses, 9 career defensive touchdowns, 643 career tackles, NFL-record 1,590 interception return yards

Ed Reed is tied for the most career playoff interceptions (9), has the longest interception return in NFL history (107 yards), holds the aforementioned return yards record, has more multi-interception games in his career than any other player (12) and is the only player in the history of the league to take an interception, punt, blocked punt and a fumble recovery back for a touchdown.

And really, those records don’t even do Reed all the justice that he deserves.

The safety was an unreal stalwart of some of the greatest defensive units in league history with the Baltimore Ravens. He was the perfect blend of athletic playmaking and physicality on the back end of the defense that was capable of making plays in any moment. There was never a moment or situation too big that Reed couldn’t handle and he proved it time and again.

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Amidst an incredibly strong 2019 NFL Hall of Fame class, Ed Reed is the best of the bunch. Even with a relatively short career, the impact he made and consistency he performed with is simply marvelous and undeniable.

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