Fansided

Top 30 NFL players of the 21st century

By Jarrett Bailey

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 24: Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets reacts with Jordan Jenkins #48 before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 24: Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets reacts with Jordan Jenkins #48 before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 03: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens gestures on the field in the second half against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

15. Ed Reed

The best ball hawk in NFL history, Ed Reed was elite at reading the quarterback’s eyes, and making them pay for testing him.

Here is a great story about Reed. The Ravens were scheduled to play the Colts one season. Reed knew that Peyton Manning would be studying Reed’s film, so Reed purposely didn’t make certain reads on defense so Manning wouldn’t expect it when the two teams played. Reed ended up intercepting Manning that game. That was just next-level intellect that he had.

Reed led the NFL in interceptions three times. He had nine interceptions in 2004, as well as 358 interception return yards, which led the league. He was named First-Team All-Pro and won the Defensive Player of the Year. Reed made three consecutive All-Pro teams from 2006-08, and once again led the NFL with nine interceptions in 2008. His final All-Pro selection came in 2010, where he once again led the NFL in interceptions with eight.

Reed was a threat in the defensive backfield for over a decade. He returned seven interceptions for touchdowns, and was also a threat in the return game, as well. He is the best ball hawk in modern NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

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