Miami great and NFL legend Ed Reed joins Hurricanes’ football staff
One of the greatest football players of all time is joining the University of Miami football staff.
Former Hurricanes national champion safety Ed Reed, recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is joining the Hurricanes staff, UM announced late Thursday afternoon.
Reed’s new title: chief of staff.
Reed will serve in an advisory role, per UM, that will include “strategic planning’’ and “quality control’’ and “player evaluation’’ and “player development.’’ UM said Reed will also “provide assistance in team building, student-athlete mentorship and recruiting, as permissible under NCAA rules.”
The completion of his hire is pending “a standard university background check,’’ UM said in a written release.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ed back to Coral Gables,’’ UM coach Manny Diaz said. “He is not only one of the most decorated players in Miami football history but also a devoted Cane who cares deeply about this program. All of our players, coaches and staff will be fortunate to tap into his experience, knowledge and passion on a regular basis.’’
Many believed the chief of staff position would go to former Canes great Alonzo Highsmith, who engaged in conversations with athletic director Blake James within the past month. But nothing ever materialized.
Reed, who played with Miami from 1997 (redshirt season) through 2001, won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 (2012 season) and was inducted into the Hall this past August. At Miami, he was a consensus first-team All-American his final two seasons, and still holds the UM record for career interceptions with 21, and interceptions return yards with 389.
Reed, who graduated from UM in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, also competed in UM track and field and won the Big East javelin title in 1999.
Reed played at UM with current UM defensive backs coach Mike Rumph, who was a Canes cornerback.
Reed was selected last month as one of six safeties selected to the #NFL100 All-Time Team, and he is in Miami for Sunday’s Super Bowl 54 featuring the 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.
A native of Destrahan, Louisiana, Reed was the 24th overall pick by the Ravens in the 2002 NFL Draft. He was one of five Hurricanes who went in the first round that year. He played with the Ravens from 2002 through 2012, then went to the Houston Texans and finally the New York Jets to conclude his playing career in 2013.
Reed earned nine Pro Bowl berths and was named All-Pro six times with the Ravens. He was the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and in 2012 he was on the Ravens team that defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl 47.
Reed ended his NFL career with 643 tackles, 64 interceptions, seven interception returns for touchdowns, six sacks, 13 fumble recoveries and 139 passes defended. He holds the Ravens’ franchise records for career interceptions (61), interceptions return yards (1,541), interceptions returned for touchdowns (7) and passes defended (135). He holds NFL records for longest interception return (107 yards), career interception return yards (1,590) and career multi-interception games (12).
A Hurricanes diehard who savored his UM career, Reed is in the UM Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into Miami’s Ring of Honor in 2017.
In March 2016, Reed, who at that point was an assistant defensive backs coach with the Buffalo Bills, came to Greentree Field to evaluate the Hurricanes at Pro Day. He was asked by the Miami Herald what it meant to him to be a Hurricane.
“It means my world,’’ he said. “It’s everything to me. I’ll bleed the orange and green for life.’’
This story was originally published January 30, 2020 at 4:30 PM.
