Born in St. Louis, Missouri,[6] Ream was a 2005 NSCAA All-Midwest Region selection with his high school, St. Dominic, and after finishing his career with 15 goals and a school-record 39 assists, was tabbed All-State, All-Conference and Class 2 Defensive Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2005, was a St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro selection and garnered Archdiocesan Athletic Association Player of the Year honors following senior season.

[9] His play during pre-season impressed many observers, including new coach Hans Backe who was pleased with his distribution and tactical awareness.

[citation needed] In December 2011, during the MLS off-season, Ream spent a short time training with both West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers with permission from the Red Bulls to maintain his fitness during the winter break.

[20] He was given the number 32 shirt and made his debut for the club in Bolton's 2–0 FA Cup win at Millwall on February 18.

[23] He went on to appear ten games straight towards the end of the season, but was unable to help the club survive relegation in the Premier League.

[citation needed] For the start of the 2012–13 season, Ream was given the number 5 shirt, previously worn by Gary Cahill.

[28] In early February 2014, he was forced to wear a protective mask in Wanderers games after a collision with Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin.

[33] Over the course of the season, he made a total of 44 appearances, missing two matches, one as an unused substitute against Derby County on September 27, 2014[34] and one through injury.

[36] Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Ream was linked with a move to Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, who made a bid for him.

[47] On August 7, 2024, Ream signed for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC on a two-year contract with the option for a further twelve months.

[50] He made his international debut that day, starting the match and played until the 67th minute before being replaced by Nat Borchers.

The U.S. won 1–0 with the lone goal coming from fellow Red Bull teammate Juan Agudelo.

[citation needed] After a two-year absence, Ream was again called into the U.S. national team in 2013[52] appearing as an unused substitute against Bosnia and Herzegovina on August 14, 2013.

[53] Ream also was called up for the 2015 Gold Cup where he played all 90 minutes against the Haiti national team and helped preserve a 1–0 clean sheet.

[57] Twenty-four hours after getting married Ream postponed his honeymoon planned in Tahiti to undergo a move to Bolton Wanderers.