Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
It’s back to school for Reed
Hall of Fame DB will assume chief of staff role for Hurricanes
Legendary Miami Hurricanes safety Ed Reed is coming back to his alma mater.
After a playing career that has seen him inducted into the Halls of Fame of both pro and college football, Reed will assume the role of chief of staff with the football program at UM, the school announced Thursday afternoon.
“As chief of staff, Reed will serve in an advisory role to [Miami coach Manny] Diaz in all aspects of the football program, including strategic planning, quality control, operations, player evaluation and player development,” the Hurricanes’ release said. “Reed will also provide assistance in team building, student-athlete mentorship and recruiting, as permissible under NCAA rules.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Ed back to Coral Gables,” Diaz said in a statement. “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.”
Reed played for the Hurricanes from 1998 to 2001, winning the 2001 national championship. He collected 21 interceptions in his four seasons at Miami, nine of them as a senior and eight as a junior in 2000, returning two for touchdowns each of those seasons.
Reed was a consensus All-American in both 2000 and 2001.
In the NFL, Reed was most known for his time with the Baltimore Ravens, who drafted him with the No. 24 pick in 2002. But he also spent time with the Houston Texans and New York Jets in 2013 after winning the Super Bowl his final season in Baltimore.
Reed’s 64 career interceptions in the NFL rank seventh on the league’s all-time list. He was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, five-time first-team All-Pro, 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in interceptions three times.
Reed holds NFL records for most career interception return yards (1,590) and the longest interception return (107 yards).
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019 and College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Reed also had a quick stint as the
Buffalo Bills assistant defensive backs coach in 2016.
He said in an episode of Bleacher Report’s “Untold Stories” that aired online Thursday afternoon that he was “in some conversations” with Diaz and the Hurricanes
On Wednesday night, Reed appeared on a Fox Sports special dubbed “The ReUnion.” He, Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, Reggie Wayne and Jimmy Johnson shared UM stories on a South Beach stage ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium.
Reed returning to Miami now puts two members of the secondary of the great 2001 Hurricanes team in either coaching or administrative roles at their alma mater. Former cornerback Mike Rumph has been cornerbacks coach since 2001.
The Hurricanes and athletic director Blake James earlier this offseason flirted with the idea of bringing back Alonzo Highsmith, a UM running back from 1983-1987, for the new chief of staff position. On and off conversations between Miami and Highsmith never resulted in any agreement.
Previously vice president of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns, Highsmith and the Browns officially parted ways Wednesday.
After the news broke, Highsmith tweeted: “I heard Miami hired Ed Reed that’s a great hire and pulling for him.” In a separate tweet, he added: “Ed Reed coming back to Miami is like Jordan going back to North Carolina. Cane Legend, HOF and anything else that describes great.”
Since Miami’s 14-0 Independence Bowl loss to Louisiana Tech on Dec. 26 to cap a 6-7 season, the Hurricanes have changed offensive coordinators — from Dan Enos to Rhett Lashlee — and offensive line coaches — from Butch Barry to Garin Justice. They also had wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield leave for the same role at Penn State and have yet to hire a replacement.