Jarran Reed was on the verge of NFL super stardom.  It was January of 2019, and the Seattle Seahawk defensive lineman had just finished up a breakout season.  He had amassed 10.5 sacks, 50 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 24 quarterback hits.  He was becoming the dominant force the Seahawks had envisioned when they traded up to take him 49th overall in the 2016 draft.  He was entering the final year of his rookie deal and was in line for a huge contract extension. 

But a few months later, something happened that took him by surprise, and changed the course of his career.  He received word that the league was suspending him for the first six weeks of the 2019 season.  What made the penalty so hard for him to swallow, was the fact it was based on a domestic violence incident that had happened two years earlier, and for which he had never been charged. 

In the early morning hours of April 27, 2017 police were called to Reed’s home in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue.  According to the Seattle Times, a 21 year old woman who identified herself as Reed’s girlfriend, told police he had grabbed her by the throat during an argument and then dragged her by the wrist down a few stairs before she broke free.  The Times further reported police recommended to the local district attorney that Reed be charged with 4th degree assault.  Reed maintained from the start that the incident had been misrepresented and, after an investigation, the city’s prosecuting office declined to pursue the case further, feeling there was “insufficient evidence to prove the crime occurred.” 

Two years later, the NFL revealed it had conducted its own probe of the incident and determined it was a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.  That policy has been controversial because it gives the league broad powers to enforce discipline, and to do so on any timeline it chooses.  Reed tried to appeal the suspension but was denied.  Afterward he posted the following message on his Twitter account: 

“I apologize to those close to me, including my family, the entire Seattle Seahawks organization and the fans of the team for putting myself in a position where I could be disciplined by the NFL.  While I totally disagree with the decision by the NFL, I still must accept it and take responsibility for the situation.  I have learned from this and will do everything I can to make friends, family, teammates, fans and the Seahawks proud of me moving forward.” 

The former University of Alabama star returned to the team in week seven of the 2019 season and played well enough to earn a two year, $23 million extension.  But his production in 2020 slipped to 6.5 sacks and 14 hits on the quarterback, playing in all sixteen games.  Those are not terrible numbers, but apparently the Seahawks judged he had lost the momentum that had him on the path to stardom.  They asked him to restructure his deal and, when Reed wanted more years in return, the relationship went sour.  The Seahawks released him after the 2020 season. He didn’t stay unemployed for long.  He signed a one year deal with the Chiefs for $5 million.   

The durable 313 pounder played in all seventeen games, but his numbers were modest at just 2.5 sacks and 19 quarterback pressures, prompting whispers that his best days were behind him, whispers that got louder when the Chiefs allowed him to walk. 

No player wants to go out that way.  Any competitor worth his salt wants to go out on his own terms.  Reed entered the free agent market, carefully looking for the best place to provide him the opportunity to prove he can still be a top notch talent.  When the Green Bay Packers asked him to come in for an interview, something clicked immediately.  “This is a great place.  I knew as soon as I came in here on my visit, I knew this is the place I wanted to play at for the season” he said at OTAs.   

Indeed the fit seems to be right.  Playing alongside folks like Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry and first round pick Devonte Wyatt, Reed likely won’t see a lot of double teams.  The Green Bay defense is a unit on the rise, and coordinator Joe Barry seems to excel at using veteran players in a way that maximizes their abilities, as he and his staff have done with the likes of De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas. 

Bill Huber of SI.com wrote that the signing of Reed was Green Bay’s “most savvy” move of the offseason.  “He definitely brings an element in terms of being able to rush the passer, which we need” chimes in Matt LaFleur.  “He’s got a great attitude.  He’s a fun guy to be around in practice, and I think he has acclimated himself well to our system.” 

Well enough to understand he has something to prove, and he’s in the right place to prove it.