Jets’ D.J. Reed opens up about high school ‘low point’ that fueled football career

Q: How often do you visualize hoisting the Lombardi Trophy?

A: Every day. I’m a big visualizer, meditation type of guy. So that’s something that I visualize every day that I wake up,

Q: How realistic is it?

A: I think it’s very realistic. Obviously, we got to stay healthy, that’s the name of the game, but I feel like if we’re healthy for the most part, we could go very far.

Q: This team has not made the playoffs 13 straight years.

A: God willingly, we’re breaking that. We got the team, so we just got to stay healthy.

Q: Also, 55 years since this team won a Super Bowl.

A: God willingly, we’re breaking that. We got the team to do it.

Q: This franchise has not won a division title since 2002.

A: God willingly, that’s going to change this year. We got the team to do it.

Q: That’s your standard answer.

A: I mean, it’s true. We got the team.

Q: How good can this defense be?

A: I think that we could be legendary, to be honest. I think that we could be great. But it’s going to take communication, everybody be on the same page to be able to achieve those goals.

Q: No. 1 defense, is that the goal?

A: The goal is to be the best version of ourself, which I believe if we do that, we’ll have the No. 1 defense.

Q: What do you like best about your defense?

A: Just the aggressiveness of our defense. The D-line goes eat, linebackers go eat, DBs go eat … so we all eat.

Q: What is Aaron Rodgers like off the field?

A: Super cool … laid-back … chill. … He’s a Cali boy. You know us, we just be chillin’.

Q: Do you sense a hunger in him?

A: Oh yeah, he’s definitely really hungry. Just from OTAs to now, the offense is locked in. We’re ready to go.

Q: Have you picked him off in practice?

A: Nah, haven’t got him. I didn’t get him this training camp. Just [pass breakups. It’s hard to pick him because he throws the ball where the receivers could just get it.

Q: What would you tell Jets fans about the kind of season you expect from him?

A: He’s going to have a legendary season. The way he prepares, the level of quarterback he is, the mindset that he has — it’s bound to happen. He’s going to play great.

Q: What are you most proud of about what you’re able to do at your size on the field?

A: Yeah, I just feel like when I’m out there, I don’t feel small [5-foot-9]. So like I’m the giant, or the superior when I take the field. It’s not really, ‘Oh, this receiver’s 6-5.’ I don’t even think of that. Whoever’s lined up against me, I just think that I’m going to win the rep, and that’s just how I operate.

Q: Why hasn’t your height been a liability or detriment?

A: That’s a good question. … I don’t know. … Like I said, when I’m in the field, I feel like a giant, I don’t feel 5-9, I don’t even think about being 5-9. Maybe it’s because I don’t think about it when I’m on the field. I don’t know … because I know a lot of guys aren’t 5-9 that could play corner. It doesn’t happen. Probably like two, three guys maybe — Kenny Moore … Tre Brown … so it’s not that many guys that are 5-9.

Q: But even as a kid, it never dissuaded you, it never discouraged you.

A: No, I got told all the time, like, “You’re too small,” so maybe it’s just I’m immune to hearing that. It is what it is, go out there and dominate.

Q: And you still use that as motivation?

A: Not really anymore. I know if I do my system, if I stick to my script, I’m going to play well.

Q: Where does that confidence, that athletic arrogance, come from?

A: Just how I grew up. I grew up with a lot of brothers. Got two older brothers, but we had a lot of people in and out of our house, so it was just like very competitive playing basketball, playing football, and just learning how to trash talk, learning how to beat people that’s bigger than you, so it’s something that just came natural from how I grew up.

Q: Whatever comes to mind: Garrett Wilson.

A: He could be the top guy this year in the league, I believe that.

Q: Breece Hall.

A:.Breece is going to be really good as well, especially with the O-line that we got. Once he hits the crease, he’s gone. He runs like a DB, he’s fast, really fast. He’s an explosive play waiting to happen.

Q: Mike Williams.

A: I think he’s going to be the X-factor for our offense. If he’s healthy and he gets going, Garrett’s going to probably attract a lot of double teams, so he’s going to have a lot of 1-on-1 [opportunities] with cornerbacks. And he has a catch radius and ability to make plays. If he gets going, the offense is gonna be even more dangerous.

Q: Describe the newcomers on the offensive line.

A: They look great, bro. Tyron Smith looks great. Hopefully he could stay healthy. I mean, everybody else looks great too — Morgan Moses, [John] Simpson — everybody looks great.

Q: C.J. Mosley.

A: A leader, on and off the field. That’s Captain.

Q: Michael Carter II.

A: Smart … high-level IQ … best nickelback in the game.

Q: Quinnen Williams.

A: Dominant. Force to be reckoned with. Best D-lineman in the game.

Q: Malik Nabers.

A: He’s going to be good. You could just see how he moves, moves really well. He could catch the ball really well.

Q: What do you think about Jalen Brunson, what he did with the Knicks?

A: Baller. I watched him live twice. He’s very underrated. I think he’s one of the best point guards in the league right now. I don’t think it’s a question. And yeah, he’s just a baller. Lefty, not big, could score anytime he wants to, gets to the bucket how he wants to, gets his teammates involved, understands the game, has a high-level IQ. He’s overall just a great basketball player.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.

A: Just dominate. We’re about to get to that time where everything’s going to count, so just locking in, getting back into the mindset, for real. I’m ready for that.

Q: Why do you like playing in the New York market on the big stage?

A: I just enjoy it, especially playing with great DBs around me, just knowing that the ball’s coming my way. We got a first-team All-Pro on the other side [Sauce Gardner], so knowing that I’m going to get targeted definitely motivates me to want to make the play for my team. It’s just a great situation to be in to be honest with you.

Q: Sauce looks like he bulked up a little bit.

A: Yeah, he definitely got bigger, he gained some good weight this offseason. You could tell he was lifting weights in the offseason. Just the longevity of the season, God willingly, if we win in the regular season and go to the playoffs and make the Super Bowl run, you’re going to need that extra weight, that extra muscle to just endure the long season.

Q: Describe Jets fans.

A: I love Jet fans — I think you guys are the best fans. I’m not just saying that because I’m here. You have an organization that hasn’t won, you guys are still loyal, you guys still show up to the games. The games are fairly, usually sold out, or almost sold out, so that’s a testament to the consistency and the … you got to be a little crazy to do that. You all might be a little crazy, but I’m a little crazy too, I like crazy. … I love you Jet fans, and I appreciate you all.

Q: What do you mean you’re a little crazy?

A: We play football. You’re playing football this long, you’re probably a little crazy. It’s not a bad thing.

Q: How much longer do you want to play?

A: I haven’t put a timetable on how long I want to play. It’s really just how my body holds up. Like right now I feel healthy. So I’m just going to keep playing. However long that may be, we’ll see.

Q: How do you feel about not making ESPN’s Top 100?

A: We’re going to see this year. Every year’s a new year. I didn’t even know about it. Like I said, I’m motivated internally. I’m looking forward to this season, and we’ll see how it goes.

Q: But you believe you’re in the top 100 of football players in the NFL?

A: Absolutely. Without a question.

Q: What is the best story Robert Saleh has ever told, or the one that resonated with you?

A: One thing he said in San Francisco [when Saleh was defensive coordinator] that stick with me is, he said something like, “We all have the own to our story. As a man, the worst thing you want to do is let somebody else write your story.” You don’t want to even leave it up for grabs, so every day is like an interview. You want to show up, and put your best version of yourself every day on tape. Because if you don’t, then people will be able to persuade or write your own story, people in the building that you don’t know if you allow them to.

Q: How frustrating or agonizing was last season?

A: Aaron got hurt on the fourth play, that was devastating. It was definitely a humbling experience, but it taught me a lot. It really taught me you gotta really just focus on yourself and be the best version of you despite what’s going on around you, because you’re still being judged for what you put on film.

Q: Would you want to retire as a Jet?

A: Yeah, I think that’d be dope, but this is a business, so you know what I’m saying? (Laugh). Things don’t always play out like that, but these three years that I’ve been here, definitely grateful for it. New York will always have a special place in my heart. I was telling my wife, like, I love the city, I love Jersey, would definitely be back even if I’m on another team or whatever, but it would be dope, but at the end of the day this is a business.

Q: What drives you?

A: My faith in God. He’s given me this opportunity. He’s given me these gifts, and I just feel like it’s just my due diligence to pay it back to Him, wholeheartedly. So that’s why I move how I move and operate how I operate. Not really an external guy. Really just care about God, my family, and that’s really it. I’m just simple in that aspect. But yeah, I’m just really motivated just internally.

Q: If you could go back in time and intercept any QB in NFL history, who would it be?

A: Probably say Tom Brady. I never played against Tom.

Q: What is your favorite NFL interception so far?

A: I’ll have to say my first pick against my former team, the Niners, that’s probably the best one, and also the Baltimore game, my dad passed, that was a high-point ball that I went and got.

Q: You were in jail once in Bakersfield, Calif., for how long?

A: Thirty days, technically 34 days because I was in holding for four days. That was definitely a low point in my life. I learned so much from that experience. If I didn’t go through that experience I definitely wouldn’t be in this situation that I’m in. It definitely matured me really fast. I was just focused after that happened.

Q: What was the low point in there?

A: Just the unknowing of what’s going to happen next, with having to miss my playoff games in basketball, having to watch them win the Valley championship, having to watch them go to State and I couldn’t participate … having to explain to colleges the situation that I got in, and they’re didn’t want you to recruit me because they were scared of the situation … seeing how people were treating me, teachers, so-called friends, just seeing the different vibes of how I was getting treated when I got in trouble. So it just was a learning experience of like when things aren’t going good, people aren’t going to be messing with you, when things are going great vice versa. But at the end of the day, it matured me, and it locked me in to what I want to do which was play football.

Q: You got in trouble for what?

A: Me and my friends, we got into a fight, we ended up stealing one of the kids’ bikes. We got charged with robbery, so had to do 34 days. … I was 16. I was a junior in high school.

Q: That must have been tough telling your mom, right?

A: When it happened, I called her so she wouldn’t have to hear from somebody else. I was with my little brother too, so she had two of her sons getting arrested, which is, I can’t even imagine that feeling. I really felt bad because I put my mom through that.

Q: You have a 1 ¹/₂-year-old daughter, Kinsley Nicole, and a baby boy on the way?

A: September 20.

Q: Do you have a name picked out?

A: Yeah, Brody Christian Reed.

Q: What’s fatherhood like?

A: It’s the best. It’s something that when I go home, just forget about everything that happened at the facility, and I just turn into dad mode, so it’s just a total different version of me, just D.J. Reed the family man, and yeah, just goofy (smile), just making my daughter laugh … just different side of me.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Tupac [Shakur], Kobe Bryant, my pops.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Step Brothers.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Denzel [Washington].

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Angelina Jolie.

Q: Favorite singer?

A: Marvin Sapp.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Steak and eggs.

Q: What do you think your emotions will be a week from Monday night in San Francisco in the tunnel for the opener?

A: Ready to set the tone for the season.

Q: What goes through your gut in the tunnel before a game?

A: Just dominate. I turn my alter ego on. It’s a whole different person out there, something else just really takes over, and whoever’s in front of me, I’m gonna dominate, that’s my mindset when I take the field.

Q: You just flip a switch, is that it?

A: Yeah, it’s called the “Dark Horse,” it’s my alter ego.

Q: Why is that your alter ego?

A: I don’t know, it just is. Dark Horse.

Q: Somebody call you that?

A: That’s what I call myself. Just poise … domination … and strategic … just resilient, and just going to find a way to win.

Q: What’s the origin of Dark Horse? Why would you pick that?

A: That’s a good question. I got a tat on me, I don’t know.

Q: On the left arm.

A: The left arm is the deviant arm — that’s Kobe … “Never Give Up” … the Dark Horse on the other side, alter ego … and the crown (left bicep). And this side (right arm) is the heavenly side. The “In Due Time,” that’s kind of the slogan that I had growing up … the yin and yang, David and Goliath. … I got Jesus with the two thieves on the cross … “NFL Round 5 Pick 142.” This is the story side and this is the deviant side.

Q: What would be your career goals?

A: I want to become an All-Pro. That’s something I haven’t done that I want to do. I want to be a Pro Bowler. I want to win a Super Bowl. Was able to be in a Super Bowl [LIV], I would want to win a Super Bowl, that would be a dope goal to have before leaving.

Q: What was that feeling like walking off the field not winning the Super Bowl?

A: It was horrible. And I was only playing special teams my second year. And it was just crazy ’cause we [49ers] were up by 10 with seven minutes left and ended up losing. I remember T. [Tarvarius] Moore got an interception, and we were all celebrating like we won the game, and I remember Richard Sherman was trying to calm everybody down like, “You guys got to relax, it’s not over.” And little do you know, [Patrick] Mahomes came back, scored a touchdown, and then the game changed and yeah, they end up winning. … I learned from that, you just got to stay poised. You got to stay poised.