NFL: 30 greatest seasons from players 30 and older
By Tommy Jaggi
26. . FS. Baltimore Ravens. Ed Reed. 20. player
NFL: 30 greatest seasons from players 30 and older: 20. Ed Reed, 2008
2008 was a season filled with spectacular defensive performances, and I would be remiss if Ed Reed – quite arguably the best free safety of all-time – didn’t make this list. Reed was obviously a spectacular football player, and nobody was surprised when he became a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2019. He recorded a whopping 5 seasons of at least 7 interceptions and his ability to stay healthy throughout his 174-game career helped contribute to his success.
Surprisingly, Reed didn’t become an All-Pro until the age of 26 in 2004 where he recorded 9 interceptions and a remarkable 358 interception return yards to go with 2 defensive scores. However, in 2008 at the age of 30, Reed was just as good as he ever was. In fact, he may have been even better.
Despite the drop-off in play we’ve seen over the years from safeties in their 30’s, Reed showed no signs of aging. In 16 games, he collected 9 interceptions, 264 interception return yards, and three defensive touchdowns. Reed also nabbed an interception which he returned for an NFL record, 107-yards before crossing the endzone.
Reed ultimately fell behind James Harrison for Defensive Player of the Year honors despite his dominant 9-interception performance in his old age, and the Ravens fell to the Steelers in the 2008 AFC Championship game. Still, it’s hard to ask any more of a safety in his 30’s.