Ed Reed is back in football ... as a coach.
The Buffalo Billsannounced Wednesday that Reed -- the former Ravens star regarded as one of the best safeties in NFL history -- will join the organization as the assistant defensive backs coach.
"Ed Reed is going to be such a great asset to our team," said Ryan. "Obviously he's played in this system and been an MVP caliber guy in this system. He's going to be such a great asset for players. He's a real student of the game as well and he's going to be a phenomenal coach."
Reed's resume as a player is impeccable: He is the NFL's all-time leader in interception-return yards and playoff interceptions, and ranks sixth in regular-season picks. He's one of three safeties to win Defensive Player of the Year over the last 30 years. He was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and won a Super Bowl title with the Ravens in 2012, his final season with the team.
This will be Reed's first NFL coaching job, but there is ample evidence he'll be well-equipped for the gig. Reed was renowned for his film study of opponents during his career and Patriots coach Bill Belichick once called Reed the smartest player he had ever faced as a coach.
As far as praise in the NFL goes, it doesn't get much better than that.
