Former Ravens star Ed Reed to become head coach at HBCU Bethune-Cookman

The pipeline of Hall of Fame defensive back to HBCU head football coach just doubled.

Former Baltimore Ravens superstar Ed Reed was hired Tuesday night to become the coach at Bethune-Cookman, a historically Black university in Daytona Beach, Florida. 

Reed, widely considered as one of the greatest safeties in the history of the NFL, is following in Deion Sanders’ footsteps by taking over an HBCU football program. Sanders, a Hall of Famer himself as a star cornerback, took over Jackson State’s program in 2020, leading the Tigers to a 27-6 record in three seasons. Sanders left Jackson State earlier this month for Colorado, a Power 5 school that competes in the Pac-12. 

Former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George is also coaching an HBCU at Tennessee State, a program he took over in 2021. 

Reed played 12 seasons in the NFL, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004, leading the Ravens to a Super Bowl trophy in 2012 and earning a Hall of Fame nod in 2019. 

Reed, 44, has served in support staff roles at Miami, his alma mater, for the past three seasons. He was also an assistant defensive backs coach with the Buffalo Bills in 2016. He will be taking over a struggling program coming off back-to-back 2-9 seasons as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. 

• This story is based in part on wire service reports.