Editing Ed Reed (section)

====2004: Defensive Player of the Year====
Defensive coordinator [[Mike Nolan]] retained Reed and Will Demps as the starting safeties in 2004. On September 26, 2004, Reed recorded three combined tackles, a season-high three pass deflections, and intercepted two passes by Bengals' quarterback [[Carson Palmer]] during a 23–9 win at the [[2004 Cincinnati Bengals|Cincinnati Bengals]] in Week 3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals – September 26th, 2004 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200409260cin.htm |access-date=February 27, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063533/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200409260cin.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In Week 9, Reed recorded three combined tackles, deflected a pass, and returned an interception by quarterback [[Jeff Garcia]] for a 106-yard touchdown as the Ravens defeated the [[2004 Cleveland Browns|Cleveland Browns]] 27–13.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens – November 7th, 2004 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200411070rav.htm |access-date=February 27, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228070103/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200411070rav.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In Week 12, he collected a season-high nine combined tackles and broke up a pass during a 24–3 loss at the [[2004 New England Patriots|New England Patriots]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots – November 28th, 2004 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200411280nwe.htm |access-date=February 27, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228070127/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200411280nwe.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Reed was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Players of the Month |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/players-of-the-month.htm |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929204108/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/players-of-the-month.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 23, 2004, it was announced that Reed was selected to play in the [[2005 Pro Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Pro Bowl rosters |url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/12/23/19868084/2005-nfl-pro-bowl-rosters/ |access-date=August 28, 2018 |website=[[Deseret News]] |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829001733/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/600099769/2005-NFL-Pro-Bowl-rosters.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He started in all 16 games and recorded 76 combined tackles (62 solo), eight pass deflections, a career-high nine interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two sacks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed Reed 2004 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/ReedEd00/gamelog/2004/ |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005012533/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/ReedEd00/gamelog/2004/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Reed was named as a First-team All-Pro for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/allpro.htm |access-date=February 27, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002072127/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/allpro.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He was named the [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] by the [[Associated Press]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AP Defensive Player of the Year Winners |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/ap-defensive-player-of-the-year.htm |access-date=February 27, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713200031/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/ap-defensive-player-of-the-year.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, Reed set an NFL mark for most interception return yardage in a season, accumulating 358 return yards on nine interceptions; Reed held this record until 2009, when it was exceeded by [[Darren Sharper]]. He also returned an interception 106 yards for a touchdown, which was an NFL record until Reed reclaimed the record in 2008.<ref name="106YardsInt">{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2004 |title=Reed's 106-yard interception return TD seals victory |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/241107033 |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223173833/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/241107033 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=107YardsInt/>