D.J. Reed Bio
Dennis Duane “D. J.” Reed Jr. is an American professional football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, Reed has built his reputation as a quick, physical corner with strong ball skills and a willingness to contribute on special teams.
Across stops in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York, Reed has developed into a reliable starting cornerback in the NFL. In March 2025, he signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Detroit Lions that includes a $15.23 million signing bonus, beginning a new chapter after three seasons as a starter for the New York Jets.
Early Life and Background
Dennis Duane Reed Jr. was born on November 11, 1996, in Bakersfield, California. He attended Independence High School in his hometown, where he starred in football and basketball. In his high school football career, he totaled six interceptions and five forced fumbles along with 1,150 total yards of offense with 13 touchdowns. His athletic ability was recognized on the basketball court as well, and he became the first player in school history to be named MVP in both sports.
Although he played both football and basketball through his early years, Reed decided to pursue football full-time as a senior. He received no scholarship offers, a setback that pushed him to bet on himself. He later earned a walk-on spot at Fresno State after a successful tryout for the Bulldogs.
Path to American Football
Reed began his college career as a walk-on at Fresno State, where he redshirted as a true freshman in 2014. When the Fresno State coaching staff declined to offer him a scholarship in the spring of 2015, he transferred to Cerritos College, a community college in Norwalk, California. In his lone season at Cerritos, he played in 11 games, tallying 42 tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions.
After one year at Cerritos, Reed transferred to Kansas State. As a redshirt sophomore in 2016, he started 12 of 13 games at cornerback, added return duties, and recorded 75 tackles, 19 pass breakups, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. His performance earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors at cornerback, and he was named the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He followed that with a strong 2017 campaign in which he was a team captain, started 11 games, and recorded four interceptions and nine pass breakups on defense, while excelling as a return specialist with two touchdowns. He was again named first-team All-Big 12 and earned second-team All-American recognition. Reed declared for the 2018 NFL draft on December 31, 2017.
D.J. Reed Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
The San Francisco 49ers selected Reed in the fifth round, 142nd overall, of the 2018 NFL draft, making him the 16th cornerback taken. He signed a four-year rookie contract and opened his first season as a backup and special teams contributor, finishing his rookie year with 41 combined tackles, one forced fumble, and one sack in 15 games and two starts. As a rookie, he also returned kicks and occasionally played safety.
In 2019, Reed appeared in all 16 games as a depth cornerback, finishing with 13 combined tackles, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and a touchdown. He appeared in the 49ers’ postseason run that ended at Super Bowl LIV, where he played nine snaps on special teams in the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2020–2021)
On August 5, 2020, the Seattle Seahawks claimed Reed off waivers after he had been released with a non-football injury designation following a torn pectoral. He began the season on the reserve/non-football injury list, was activated in late October, and quickly became a starter. In his Seattle debut against his former team, the 49ers, he picked off Jimmy Garoppolo and made six solo tackles in a 37–27 win. He finished 2020 with 62 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and two interceptions in 10 games and eight starts.
Reed entered 2021 as Seattle’s No. 1 starting cornerback. He set a career high with two interceptions against the Detroit Lions in the season finale, finishing the year with 78 combined tackles, 10 pass deflections, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery in 14 starts. His 78.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus cemented his standing as a productive NFL starter.
New York Jets Era (2022–2024)
On March 17, 2022, the New York Jets signed Reed to a three-year, $33 million contract, reuniting him with head coach Robert Saleh, his former defensive coordinator in San Francisco. He started all 17 games in 2022, set a career high with 80 combined tackles, and added 12 pass deflections and one interception, including a pick of Lamar Jackson in the season opener. He was paired across from rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner and posted a 72.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
In 2023, Reed recorded 76 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, and one interception in 15 starts, including a Week 12 interception of a Tua Tagovailoa pass intended for Tyreek Hill. He received an overall grade of 77.9 from Pro Football Focus. In 2024, he started 14 games and finished with 64 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, and one sack, while navigating a groin injury and the midseason firing of head coach Robert Saleh. His 70.7 overall grade ranked 43rd among 222 qualifying cornerbacks.
Detroit Lions Era (2025–Present)
On March 10, 2025, the Detroit Lions signed Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract that included $30.98 million in guaranteed money and a $15.23 million signing bonus. The move gave Detroit a proven veteran cornerback to pair with its secondary. Reed, however, was placed on injured reserve on October 1 due to a strained hamstring, sidelining him in the middle of the season. He was activated on November 22, ahead of the team’s Week 12 matchup against the New York Giants.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reed is a compact, aggressive cornerback whose game thrives on quickness, physicality at the line of scrimmage, and instinctive ball tracking. He has shown he can play on the outside or in the slot, and his special teams background, including return duties at Kansas State, has made him a reliable tackler in space. Throughout his career he has graded respectably with Pro Football Focus, peaking at 78.6 in 2021.
Notable Events and Milestones
Reed made his postseason debut in January 2020, helping the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV. He recorded his first career interception in his Seattle debut against San Francisco in November 2020, set a career high with two interceptions against the Detroit Lions in January 2022, and intercepted Lamar Jackson in his Jets debut in September 2022. His March 2025 contract with the Detroit Lions represented the largest deal of his career.
D.J. Reed Career Wins
Reed’s career win totals reflect his role as a defensive player rather than a statistical headliner. He has been a reliable contributor on winning teams in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York, and has been a part of multiple postseason runs, including a Super Bowl appearance with the 49ers.
Team Highlights
As a member of the 49ers, Reed played on a 2019 team that finished 13–3, earned a first-round bye, and advanced to Super Bowl LIV. With the Seahawks, he helped Seattle to a strong 2020 finish and a 2021 season in which he set a career high with two interceptions in a single game. With the Jets, he was a starter on defenses that included 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner across the corner.
Other Performances
Reed earned All-Big 12 honors in 2016 and 2017 at Kansas State and was named a second-team All-American in 2017. He was also named the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2016 after transferring from Cerritos College.
D.J. Reed Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Reed grew up in Bakersfield, California, where he attended Independence High School and became the first player in school history to be named MVP in both football and basketball. His path to the NFL was driven by a self-made journey from a no-scholarship high school senior to a walk-on at Fresno State, a productive stop at Cerritos College, and a starring role at Kansas State.
Personal Life
Reed was born Dennis Duane Reed Jr. and goes by the nickname D. J. He is an American citizen who has spent his NFL career in San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and Detroit, and he maintains an active presence on social media under the handle “dj_2great.” Public details about his immediate family and personal relationships are limited.
2025 Season Performance
Reed’s 2025 season with the Detroit Lions began with one of the most significant contracts of his career, a three-year, $48 million deal that signaled Detroit’s confidence in his veteran presence. He was expected to be a stabilizing force in the Lions’ secondary alongside younger defensive backs.
His debut campaign, however, was interrupted by a hamstring strain that sent him to injured reserve on October 1, costing him several weeks of regular-season play. The Lions activated him on November 22 in time for a Week 12 matchup against the New York Giants, giving him a chance to contribute down the stretch.
Looking ahead, Reed’s role in Detroit is expected to blend his experience from the 49ers’ Super Bowl run, his development in Seattle, and his three seasons as a Jets starter. If he stays healthy, he projects as a veteran starter whose physicality and special teams value can help anchor a Lions defense with championship aspirations.