Cornerback D.J. Reed. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Jets' D.J. Reed explains celebrating interception in blowout loss: 'Much deeper than football'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Sep 12, 2022 12:57 PM ET

The New York Jets were getting blown out at home by the Baltimore Ravens 24-3 in Sunday's NFL regular-season opener when Jets cornerback D.J. Reed intercepted a pass thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson late in the fourth quarter.

Despite the score, Reed commemorated the occasion with what seemed to be a celebration that clearly rubbed some among the MetLife Stadium crowd the wrong way, as the 25-year-old heard some boos and jeers as he made his way back to the sideline:

.@D7_Reed went up and got it.#BALvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/CKdt4ZFi24
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 11, 2022

Reed addressed the play after the defeat via Twitter:

That was for you pops pic.twitter.com/lzTPyZtNVR
— DJ_2Great (@D7_Reed) September 11, 2022

As Michael Dixon noted for The Comeback, CBS2 New York sports director Otis Livingston spoke with Reed following the game and remarked that "there will be some scrutiny after" celebrating a play that made zero impact on the contest's outcome. Reed shook his head while Livingston offered his comments and then explained he wasn't celebrating what onlookers would have otherwise believed was a meaningless moment of a matchup that had already been decided.

"My dad passed away literally right before this game," Reed admitted. "I was emotional. Am still emotional…that pick was for my dad. That wasn’t celebrating…that was much deeper than football."

Be careful when criticizing. You have no idea what a person is going through. DJ Reed got an interception & paid tribute while getting blown out. Some "fans" didn't like it at the time. But listen to why he did it in my exclusive Jets Late Night interview... RIP Dennis Reed Sr. pic.twitter.com/foXkJIAIt2
— Otis Livingston (@OlivingstonTV) September 12, 2022

Livingston told Reed he was sorry for his loss, and Twitter users quickly sent condolences:

Exactly. You never know what someone is going through. https://t.co/sZsAqK1trj
— Adam Clements (@AClementsWKRC) September 12, 2022

Incredible job Otis, can’t imagine the strength it took to play after this news
— Jennifer X. Williams (@JenXperience) September 12, 2022

I was useless for two weeks and barely functional for over a month when my mom passed so to go out RIGHT after hearing his dad passed and played let alone get a pick…. Props to @d7_reed. https://t.co/Ny4eTVKU7T
— I’m Not OK (@da_breezman77) September 12, 2022

The 0-1 Jets will next face the 1-0 Cleveland Browns in Cleveland's home opener this coming Sunday.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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