Bills hire former star safety Ed Reed as defensive assistant

The Buffalo Bills defensive backs will have quite the new coach to learn from this offseason: the organization announced on Wednesday night that it has hired Ed Reed as assistant defensive backs coach.

A five-time first-team All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler and 2004 NFL defensive player of the year, Reed last played in 2013 season, when he split time between the Houston Texans and New York Jets. He will be remembered as a player, however, as a Baltimore Ravens, where he spent the first 11 years of his career.

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In Baltimore and again with the Jets, Reed played for Rex Ryan, and he is reunited with Ryan as he begins his coaching career.

“Ed Reed is going to be such a great asset to our team,” Ryan said, via the Bills’ website. “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.”

Added Ryan, “Having spent time with Ed in Baltimore and then New York – I can attest to the incredibly high level of professionalism he is going to bring with him to Buffalo. He’s going to teach guys how he studies film, bring the guys along and add so much in that way.”