He played both safety positions and also played cornerback.
He is a cornerback (1981-85), safety (1985-90) and free safety (1990) in San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco, CA.
Mel Blount of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Eric Wright of the San Francisco 49ers both played on 4 Super Bowl winning teams. Blount started all four wins and Wright started two and came off the bench in the other two. Ronnie Lott of the 49ers also played on 4 Super Bowl winners, 2 at cornerback and 2 at free safety.
Strong safety
Ronnie Lott But Ed Reed is a distant second http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/ronnie-lott-says-ed-reed-best-safety-all-time-1330260/ Here is a quote from Ronnie Lott saying its Ed Reed.
In most formations, no.
strong usually plays a bigger role in the run game
The Strong Safety is Michael Lewis. The Free Safety is Vernon Goldston.
Defensive Back: Safety, Free Safety, Strong Safety, and Cornerbacks
He's a free safety. In actuality, in most 3-4 defenses, and in Baltimore's especially, there is not discernable difference. The definition of a Strong Safety is somebody who lines up on the strong side of the offense. Ed Reed does this. But he also lines up on the weak side or drops back in to a center field role also. So what is Ed Reed? A safety. On the Ravens, there is no free or strong.
they play in the defensive backfield along with the cornerbacks and strong safety.
the strong safety lines up on the strong side - whichever side the tight end lines up on The strong safety will usually defend the tight end in man-to-man defenses while the free safety will read the offense and determine where the ball is going to be thrown and try to be there to help in defending. Also, generally speaking, the strong safety will help towards the line of scrimmage on running plays. Typically the strong safety is used more in run support and a free safety is used more to defend the pass. Strong safeties are usually slightly bigger, better tacklers, and play closer to the line of scrimmage. Some strong safeties are former linebackers like Michael Boulware of the Seattle Seahawks.
Currently, the Steelers strong safety is Troy Polamaluand the free safety is Ryan Clark.