Reed Doughty Reed Doughty ( born November 4 , 1982 ) is an American football safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Redskins in the sixth round , with the 173rd overall pick , of the 2006 NFL Draft . He played college football at the University of Northern Colorado . Doughty is best known for taking over the starting job at free safety following the injury and subsequent death of Sean Taylor as well as for his public work to support organ donation , particularly for Americans with kidney disease . College career . During his college career , Doughty was a member of many Academic All - American teams , having graduated with a perfect 4 . 0 GPA in sport and exercise science . Doughty was also a finalist for the Draddy Trophy award ( also known as the " Academic Heisman " ) following his senior year . Professional career . Washington Redskins . 2006 Season . Doughty was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft . Doughty delivered a particularly hard hit to the New Orleans Saints ' Michael Lewis on December 17 , 2006 while covering a kickoff . This hit made ESPN ' s Jacked Up ! segment on " Monday Night Football " the following day . 2007 Season . In 2007 , Doughty switched his jersey number to 37 from 23 , which he wore in his rookie season . He had his first career start in Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys . Playing in all 16 games , starting six of them , he finished the season recording 53 combined tackles , two pass break - ups , and half of a sack . 2008 Season . On October 14 , 2008 , he was placed on injured reserve due to a back injury . Shaun Alexander signed with the Redskins on the same day and paid Doughty for his jersey so he could continuing wearing the number 37 . Doughty would then switch to jersey number 23 . When DeAngelo Hall signed with the team in November , Doughty sold him jersey number 23 so Hall could continue to wear number 23 as he had for his entire NFL career . Later in the season , Shaun Alexander would be released from the team , which allowed Doughty to go back to jersey number 37 . 2009 Season . In Week 16 of the 2009 season against the Dallas Cowboys , Doughty recorded the first interception of his career . On December 30 , 2009 , Doughty was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury . 2010 Season . Doughty re - signed as a restricted free agent with the Redskins on May 26 , 2010 for one year . At the end of the 2010 season , he recorded a new career high of 93 tackles as well as one sack , two pass deflections , and one forced fumble . 2011 Season . On August 3 , 2011 , Doughty was re - signed by the Redskins to a three - year contract . Throughout the 2011 season , he played as the backup to both free safety , Oshiomogho Atogwe , and strong safety , LaRon Landry , splitting the responsibility with DeJon Gomes . In Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings , Doughty was flagged for unnecessary roughness after tackling a scrambling Christian Ponder while he was sliding . On December 30 , 2011 , Doughty was fined $ 15 , 000 for the late hit . At the end of the season , Doughty played in all 16 games , starting 11 of them , and recorded 87 combined tackles and two forced fumbles . 2012 Season . In the 2012 season opener win against the New Orleans Saints , he recorded his second career interception . He ensured the Redskins ' victory against the Saints after he intercepted Drew Brees ' Hail Mary pass in a last attempt to tie the game and go into overtime . By Week 4 of the 2012 season , he took over starting strong safety position in place of DeJon Gomes . Personal . Doughty is severely hearing impaired and sometimes reads lips to understand what others are saying . He married his girlfriend Katie , who he has known since elementary school , in 2002 . Their son Micah was born prematurely and suffered kidney failure as a baby . He received a successful kidney transplant and is now doing well . They recently had another son and are currently living in Northern Virginia .