The Future Hall of Fame safety and legend Ed Reed has decided to hang up the cleats after 12 seasons in the NFL, and will announce his retirement with the team that selected him with the 24th overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft the Baltimore Ravens.

Reed will be at the Ravens' training facility in Owings Mills, Maryland for a press conference on Thursday, May 7th with Ravens general manger Ozzie Newsome, Ravens President Dick Cass and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.

Reed is going to make the Hall of Fame a lot sooner than later and should be a first ballot induction in Canton, Ohio when he gets the chance. In the Hall of Fame, there are the great players and then there are the elite of the elite. Reed falls into the elite of the elite category.

Here are some excellent statistics on Reed:

- 73 interceptions (64 in the regular season and nine in the playoffs)

- Led the NFL in interceptions in the 2004, 2008 and 2010 seasons 

-Defensive player of the year (2004)

-12 forced fumbles (including playoffs)

-12 fumble recoveries (including playoffs)

- Six sacks

- One safety

-14 touchdowns including playoffs  (eight interception returns, two fumble recovery returns, one punt return and three blocked punt returns)

- Super Bowl champion (2012)

- Nine-time Pro Bowler

- Five-time NFL first team All-Pro

- Holds NFL record for longest interception returned for a touchdown (107 yards in 2008)

- Holds second-longest NFL record for an interception returned for a touchdown (106 yards in 2004)

- Holds NFL record for most interception return yards (1,590)

- 152 fumble return yards

Many can point out the great numbers Reed produced over the course of his career, but his intelligence was arguably second to none in terms of any defensive player to ever play the game.

Reed could do everything from covering 1/3 of the field, to baiting the likes of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to make a poor decision in the playoffs. Reed in his career was able to get an interception off of Manning and Brady a total of six times.

Reed was a leader in so many ways. From his study habits, to his ability to get his players lined up on gameday. 

Key Note:

Reed had the capability of playing strong safety and free safety. Early in Reed's career, he started off as a strong safety in 2002-2004 and from 2005-2013 he finished his career as a free safety.

Congrats Reed on a Hall of Fame career.