GOLDSBORO, NC – As Jarran Reed prepares to take the field on football’s biggest stage, the Goldsboro native isn’t just thinking about the Super Bowl—he’s thinking about where it all began.
In a recent interview with KayTee of 92.7 Jamz, the Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle spoke with warmth and humility about his journey from Wayne County to a decade-long NFL career now culminating in a Super Bowl appearance.
“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.”
Now in his 10th NFL season, Reed has become a steady veteran presence on Seattle’s defensive line, a role he says has grown naturally over time. “You have to have love for it to play this long…to play at the high level,” he explained, reflecting on the physical toll and mental challenges that come with longevity in professional football.
That perseverance was tested this season when Reed was sidelined with a wrist and thumb injury—the first significant time he had missed in his career. Rather than viewing it as a setback, Reed described it as “another bump in the road,” one that reminded him of the resilience instilled in him growing up in Goldsboro.
“I just went back to my roots,” he said.
Reed credited his hometown, coaches, and community for shaping not only his game but his character. He spoke fondly of the lessons learned through what he called “real football, football”—playing for the love of the game and for the people around you. He specifically acknowledged mentors such as Charles Lane, Coach Robbie Jones and Coach Brown, along with many others who invested in him and believed in his potential.
Though Reed has spent brief stretches with other NFL teams, his connection to Seattle—where he was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft—remains strong. Returning to the Seahawks, he said, felt like “icing on the cake,” and he values the bond he shares with teammates and fans alike.
Now a leader on and off the field, Reed emphasized that leadership isn’t about titles but about authenticity. “We have a team full of leaders,” he said. “I just try to speak from the heart.”
That same message carried through when Reed was asked what advice he would give to young people in Goldsboro watching his success.
“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.”
As the conversation came to a close, Reed reflected on the legacy he hopes to leave behind—not just as a football player, but as a person.
“Just being me and being real,” he said. “Never wavered from who I am. If you know me, then you know I am who I am 24/7.”
From junior college to Alabama, from Goldsboro to Seattle, and now to the Super Bowl, Jarran Reed’s story is one of perseverance, pride, and purpose—a living reminder to his hometown that big dreams can grow from small places.
