The business side of the NFL ended Jarran Reed's time with the Seahawks after five seasons, but despite things not working out during that 2021 offseason, neither Reed nor the team that drafted him closed the door on a potential reunion somewhere down the road.
And two years later, after spending a season with Kansas City and one in Green Bay, Reed indeed ended up back in Seattle, signing with the team that made him a second-round pick in 2016.
"They had a decision to make, I had a decision to make, and obviously I made that one and they had to make theirs," Reed said of his 2021 release after the sides could not agree on a restructured deal. "There were no hard feelings, it was just all business. Eventually, it led me back here.
"Nobody really wanted to part ways, but the door was always open. That was the one thing that I knew… When I left, I knew there would always be a possibility of me coming back; it was just when. They had to move on, I had to move on, but it eventually led us back to here, back to me being a 12 again."
As was the case with Bobby Wagner, who also returned to the Seahawks this offseason, and as has been the case with so many other players over the years, the culture built in Seattle by Pete Carroll and John Schneider was far more significant than any lingering hard feelings over an earlier breakup.
"I think it is that the Seahawks let you be you as a person," Reed said. "To them, it's more than just football. In some organizations, it's strictly football and they want you to be a certain type of way, act a certain way, look a certain way, and dress a certain way, but here, they let you be you. They let your personality show in the most respectful way. I feel like you as a person can be free. You can play better that way when you are free as a person, you can express yourself as a person and who you are, which I think everybody has a right to do. Those type of things, along with the culture and the coaching staff, you have fun around there. You have fun, you have a good time, and you actually enjoy being at work. All of those things accumulate to just wanting to be there.
"When you get to know the people in the building, it gets beyond football. I have built a relationship with the equipment guys, I've built a relationship with the cafeteria staff, and I've built a relationship with the weight training coaches. Everything for me personally on my end was just built around being family oriented. I was really comfortable there and I felt like I was at home. That's just the organization, it speaks for itself. When I say this, which is huge, a team or organization is letting you be you. That is very key because you get to be yourself without people being judgmental and people judging you or questioning you on why you are doing this or why you are wearing that or why you look like that. They know that you are a good person on the inside and they are good people on the inside as well. As long as you come to work, do what you are supposed to do, and stay out of the way, those are the best combinations that you can have, especially in a professional league dealing with a professional organization."
And as much as Seattle feels like the right fit for Reed, he also feels like he'll be a great fit in a defense that has changed significantly since he last played here in 2020. Last year in particular, Reed played in a Packers system that was similar to Seattle's, at least in terms of what it asks of its linemen up front.
"In Green Bay, we played a 3-4 defense, and I was a 3-technique, a big defensive end when needed. I'm well equipped with playing in any type of scheme that it would be if we decide to change it up, play a 4-3 or go to a 3-4. I feel like, now, I fit in in any one of those."
"We played that system at Alabama as well, so I am very comfortable in it. I don't think there will be any type of issues and I can just slide in and fit perfectly as long as we know the terminology that we are using and different types of other things like when we play in certain personnels. Just along with that, I don't think it will be much of a difference, I think it will be fairly similar."
Reed is also looking forward to playing once again for Seahawks defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt, who during Reed's earlier stint with Seattle was his position coach for four of Reed's five seasons as a Seahawk.
"He had a major impact on my game. He came in and had been coaching for about four years before I left," Reed said. "Clint is a great coach and an even greater person. When you build that relationship with somebody, somebody who helps you grow as a person and a man, it's hard to break that. Just being back with him is just another plus, being back with the guys who helped shape me into the football player that I am in the league, it's just a great feeling."
Take a look at photos of defensive tackle Jarran Reed from his seven-year career in the NFL, including his first five in Seattle. Jones signed with the Seahawks as a free agent on March 16, 2023. Read more.
Seattle's defense kept up the pressure in the second half with Jarran Reed chasing Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers out of the pocket.
Jarran Reed and Brenden Jackson celebrate after forcing the Giants to punt.
Seattle's Nazair Jones and Jarran Reed combine to sack Washington's Kirk Cousins.
Seattle's run defense was solid once again with Garrison Smith, Jarran Reed and K.J. Wright making a stop.
Defensive tackle Jarran Reed sports a robe befitting his first class seat for the victorious flight back to Seattle.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed gets fired up before kickoff.
Seahawks defensive linemen Jadeveon Clowney and Jarran Reed talk on the sideline while waiting for the opening coin toss. The game marked Reed's return after a six game suspension.
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed reacts after a third down stop in the first quarter.
Jarran Reed focuses during pregame warmups.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed strips the ball away from 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as Seattle's Poona Ford closes in.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed pressures Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins into an incomplete pass.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed pressures Kirk Cousins into throwing incomplete pass that was originally ruled a fumble in the third quarter.
Seahawks Jadeveon Clowney and Jarran Reed sack Eagles quarterback Josh McCown on fourth down with two minutes left in the game to stop a Philadelphia scoring threat.
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed brings down Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) rushes the quarterback while being blocked by Los Angeles Chargers offensive guard Matt Feiler (71) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talks to Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) gets set on defense during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrates a fourth down stop during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday Dec. 16, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 34-28. (John McGillen via AP)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is pressured by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed, right, recovers a fumble as Pittsburgh Steelers center Kendrick Green (53) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed picks up a Pittsburgh Steelers fumble during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (95) is joined by teammates defensive end Frank Clark (55) and defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) as time runs out in their win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photos/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) sacks Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrates a sack of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrates after a sack during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is chased by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo.. (AP Photos/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed urges the crowd to get loud during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo.. (AP Photos/Reed Hoffmann)
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) reacts to a stop against the New England Patriots during an NFL game Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) outruns Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) on a scramble during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) watches against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is unable to throw a pass for a completion after being sacked by Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) during overtime of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) plays defense during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Jarran Reed (90) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
