For those who were surprised that Ed Reed didn't end up as an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens, prepare yourselves for an even bigger shock.

Reed's son is a New England Patriots fan. Yes, the same team that rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Ravens' chief antagonist in the postseason.

This revelation came when Reed was explaining how his family wasn't initially excited about him joining the Buffalo Bills as their defensive backs coach last week.

"My son, he wasn't for it at first. He's actually a Patriots fan," Reed said on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" Tuesday night. "So I was like, 'Coach [Rex Ryan], we got to sell my son a little bit more, man. You got to get him some gear.' And he was like, 'He can get whatever he wants.'"

This will be baffling for many Ravens fans because Reed is such a popular figure in Baltimore, even to this day. It was only three years ago when Reed was celebrating a Super Bowl triumph with the Ravens. He retired as a Raven last year, and was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in November.

But let's not forget that Reed and Patriots coach Bill Belichick have always had a bromance. During Super Bowl week, Reed said he could envision playing for the Patriots. A few years ago, Tom Brady joked that Belichick wanted to adopt Reed and change his name to "Ed Belichick." Maybe the respect for the Patriots is genetic.

So, no one can fault Reed's son for cheering for whichever team he wants. It would just be easier for Ravens fans if he had chosen the Jacksonville Jaguars.