When Jarran Reed left the Seahawks after the 2020 season, he believed he would find his way back to Seattle at some point.

The business side of the game led to Reed being released in the spring of 2021, and he went on to spend the next two seasons with the Chiefs and Packers. Last season, however, the Seahawks brought Reed back, and he went right back to being what he was during his first five seasons in Seattle, a disruptive interior line presence and a leader on defense.

"I knew I was coming back," Reed said. "In my opinion, I always say I felt like I shouldn't have left but life throws a bunch of learning curves man. You live to learn, and it was good to go play for two other organizations. I played for two other great coaches. Now I'm playing for my fourth great coach."

And when he suited up for the Seahawks in Sunday's win over the Jets, Reed hit a pretty significant career milestone, playing his 100^thgame for the franchise, making him the 50^th player in franchise history to appear in 100 games.

"It means a lot," Reed said of playing his 100^th game as a Seahawk. "I'm doing something right, hopefully I can keep doing something right, but I really didn't even notice it until I think my mom had said something. We were just talking on the phone, and I was like, 'Dang well that is a lot, especially for one organization, I'm blessed.' I'm just thankful to be here so I can keep doing it. I'm doing something right if they keep me around, so obviously let's keep it that way."

Like other players who have left Seattle and played for other teams, Reed came to appreciate all the Seahawks have going for them not just on the field but also as an organization.

"I love Seattle, I love the fans," he said. "This organization is first-class, a high-class organization. Man, I have respect for John (Schneider) and Jody (Allen) and everybody who makes it possible for us as Seahawks and to go out there and perform and do what we do. It's been a long time. From the time I got drafted here, I think I said this in an interview before I knew I was getting drafted, I felt it. So being here, it is another home for me. I have nothing but respect for the people around the building. Stu (McNabb), Spider (Kevin Martinez-Jara) my guy, in the cafeteria, they're my guys. EK (Erik Kennedy) and the equipment room, Strick (David Stricklin) and C.J. (Neumann), all the guys in the training room. I have nothing but respect for everybody around me. I try to treat everybody with respect and show them the respect that they deserve. They do a lot for us to be able to go out here and perform and do what we do as well."

Reed, who turns 32 later this month, is in the final year of the deal he signed last year, but he hopes to continue his career in Seattle and retire as a Seahawk.

"Of course, I want to stay," Reed said. "I want to retire here. I mean, I've been here basically my whole career except for two years. Like I said earlier, this is home, man. So I would definitely like to end it off here however long that may be. Who knows? But I control what I can."

And controlling what he can this season, Reed has been a big part of the Seahawks' recent success. His numbers this season, 2.5 sacks, 31 tackles, three tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits, are certainly respectable for an interior linemen, but they don't tell the full story of his impact on Seattle's defense. Leonard Williams, for example, is quick to point out that his recent big games, which included 4.5 sacks in the last two games, are in part of the result of the play of the linemen around him, Reed included. And while it's hard to measure, Reed's leadership has also been big, particularly for first-round pick Byron Murphy II.

"There's a lot J-Reed's done," defensive coordinator Aden Durde said. "He's a very, very good pass rusher. He has the ability to play multiple positions, and that helps us on our front, his versatility. And then kind of as a leader in the room behind the scenes, how he brings up Murph and the guys around him, both him and Leo are doing a great job."