From Goldsboro to the Super Bowl, Jarran Reed is carrying Wayne County with him to football’s biggest stage.
The Goldsboro native and veteran defensive tackle is set to suit up in the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, marking a milestone moment in a career built on toughness, consistency, and longevity in the NFL trenches.
In a recent interview with KayTee of 92.7 Jamz, Reed reflected on what the moment means to him and where it all started.
“It feels really good, you know? It’s so crazy, man. Came from Goldsboro,” Reed said. “Just to represent Wayne County and be where I am now—it means everything.”
Reed’s football journey began at Goldsboro High School before continuing at East Mississippi Community College, where he played during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. During his time at EMCC, Reed helped lead the Lions to an NJCAA national championship in 2013 and totaled 100 career tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss.
Prior to the 2014 season, Reed transferred to the University of Alabama to finish his college career. He made an immediate impact in Tuscaloosa, playing in all 14 games and making 13 starts during his first season with the Crimson Tide, recording 55 tackles and one sack.
Reed considered entering the 2015 NFL Draft following that season but ultimately decided to return to Alabama for his senior year. That decision paid off, as he played in all 15 games and helped lead the Crimson Tide to a College Football Playoff national championship. Reed finished his senior season with 57 tackles and one sack.
On April 29, 2016, Reed was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft with the 49th overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks. Since then, he has carved out a long, physical career built on doing the demanding, often overlooked work in the middle of the defensive line.
As he prepares to take the field on football’s biggest stage, Reed has also been mindful of the message he sends back home to the next generation watching his journey.
“Always be a leader. Do what’s right. Respect your parents and elders,” Reed said. “Carry yourself with responsibility and remember—everybody’s watching, even when you think they’re not.”
When he suits up for the Super Bowl, Reed will join rare company. Over the past 15 Super Bowls, only 11 defensive tackles who were 33 years old or older and had played at least 10 NFL seasons have appeared in the championship game.
It’s taken a lot of football to reach this point. Reed has played in 163 combined regular-season and playoff games, a testament to his durability and consistency at one of the league’s most physically demanding positions.
Now, with another chapter of Seahawks history waiting to be written, Reed steps into the Super Bowl not just representing his team, but the community that helped shape him, carrying Goldsboro and Wayne County with him onto football’s biggest stage.