Former Washington Football Team tight end Jordan Reed is retiring from the NFL, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.
Reed, 30, played six seasons with Washington and spent last year with San Francisco, getting 355 passes with 28 touchdowns in a career often delayed by injuries. He played 10 games with the 49ers last season, catching 26 passes.
When he was healthy, Reed scared opponents because of his speed to beat linebacker one-on-one matchups and his size (6 feet-2, 242 pounds) to beat protections. That’s why Reed caught 87 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015 and was a major reason Washington won the NFC East. He made his only Pro Bowl appearance after the following season.
But injuries limited Reed throughout his career, as he never played in more than 14 games in a season and three times in 10 or less. He suffered at least seven documented concussions and treated soft tissue injuries and knee and toe problems. Fractures in his big toes led to his needing surgery and affected his game for several seasons.
In 2019, Reed appeared to have regained his game with a strong training camp. Reed said at the time that he felt he was back to his old self, and numerous teammates and coaches agreed.
However, in the third game of the preseason, Atlanta safety Keanu Neal Reed drilled into a pass that resulted in another concussion. Neal was fined $ 28,075 for the hit. Reed tried to return, but never played in a game that season, signing with the 49ers in the off-season.
Reed went to the University of Florida as a quarterback, but ended tightly after one season. He played well enough for Washington to draft him in the third round in 2013.
Reed’s retirement was first reported by NFL Network.