Eli Manning says Ed Reed is the best defender he ever played

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks may be the most beloved New York athlete since New York Giants legend Eli Manning decided to hand up the cleats.

Brunson has the Knicks back as a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference where they will have high expectations again in 2024-2025.

Manning was a guest on The Roommates Show hosted by Brunson and his teammate, Josh Hart, this week and was asked by a fan about the most challenging defender he played against.

Eli Manning tells us who the most challenging defensive players he’s ever faced 👀

Presented by @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/eZM3b5qTo2

— Roommates Show (@Roommates__Show) September 5, 2024

“Ed Reed,” Manning said. “Ed Reed at free safety was just a ball hawk. Like he was all over the place. He just like you’re just scared to throw the ball anywhere near (him) — he was just like roaming.

“You just throw it to the other side. If he was one-on-one, maybe you could go to him but he (would) just the tip balls and if you got anywhere near him, he was gonna intercept it. So, Ed Reed. For sure.”

Ironically enough, Manning had previously pinpointed Reed’s long-time teammate, Ray Lewis, as a player he feared. Both Reed and Lewis have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where Manning hopes to be headed in his first year of eligibility in 2025.

Brunson is an avid Eagles fan and his co-host, Hart, grew up in the Washington D.C. area where he grew up rooting the the Washington Commanders franchise. The three had some fun talking about the current status of the NFC East.

It’s quite the compliment that Manning picked Reed over a cornerback or pass rusher. Given the fact that Reed spent the entirety of his career in the AFC and the two only saw each other three times over the course of their careers, Manning’s praise really goes to show just how good Reed was.