From 1959 to 1962, Reed was a member of the Washington State University Cougars, when he was teammates with fellow Canadian Football Hall of Famer Hugh Campbell. Reed joined with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after college, where he played for 13 years, from 1963 to 1975, totaling 203 games. He was a part of three Grey Cup victories during his career. Reed went to high school in Montreal and then attended Washington State University, where he played on the same team as future NFL star Don Hutson. After graduating from WSU, Reed signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He spent thirteen seasons with the Riders, winning three straight Grey Cups between 1970, 1971, and 1972. On November 20th, 1974, Reed was involved in one of the most memorable plays in CFL history when he returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The score gave the Riders a 24-14 victory over their rival and helped them claim their first official championship. At the end of the season, he was voted the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award. After retiring from football, Reed moved back to Montreal where he lived with his wife Lisa and their two children. He died on January 23rd, 2019 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years. He was 67.