Hartwell was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1996. He played college football at University of Wisconsin and Western Illinois University.

Hartwell was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played for the Ravens from 2001 to 2004. He never missed a game, though he was limited to special teams in 2001. He finished his career with the Ravens with 337 tackles, six sacks and one interception.

After the 2004 season, Hartwell became a free agent and was signed to a six-year, $26.25 million contract by the Atlanta Falcons. He spent two injury-plagued seasons with the Falcons before being released on March 2, 2007. He played in only 13 games recording 63 tackles and one sack.

Hartwell married reality television personality Lisa Wu-Hartwell in December 2005. Their son Ed Jr. was born May 9, 2007. Lisa also has sons Jordan (b. 1995) and Justin (b. 1998) with ex-husband R&B singer Keith Sweat.

On May 3, 2007, Hartwell signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. However, he was released on September 1 following the preseason and spent the rest of the year out of football.

Court records show that Lisa Wu-Hartwell and Ed Hartwell borrowed $2.9 million to buy their suburban mansion in June 2007. Just over two years later, Bank of America paid $1.9 million for the house at a foreclosure sale at the Forsyth County, Georgia courthouse, after the Hartwells defaulted on their adjustable-rate mortgage from the bank.

Hartwell signed with the Oakland Raiders on May 2, 2008. He was released by the team on August 13 after the team signed punter Glenn Pakulak.

Hartwell signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives in 2010.

Ed Hartwell filed for divorce on August 24, 2011; it was finalized October 7, 2011, with the court document giving her name as Sharon Millette Hartwell.

On New Year’s Day 2016, Hartwell married actress Keshia Knight Pulliam. On July 17, 2016, Pulliam announced that she was expecting her first child, a girl, with husband Ed Hartwell. Hartwell filed for divorce on July 25, 2016. Their daughter, Ella Grace was born on January 23, 2017. The divorce was finalized in April 2018.