Ray Lewis is a Baltimore Ravens legend who needs no introduction. Throughout his 17-year career, which lasted from 1996-2012, he became known as one of the sport’s best-ever linebackers. Well over a decade after his retirement, he’s still heralded as the greatest Ravens player of all time and one of the best defenders in the history of the NFL.
Lewis made an invaluable contribution to his sport. While many of his fans enjoyed watching him play, some of them would have taken things further and placed bets on both him and the Baltimore Ravens. When it comes to online betting, it’s always best to know what you’re doing. Knowledge can help you make better bets, which will help in the long run.
To celebrate Lewis and his many successes, here are 10 things you should know about him and his illustrious career.
10 Things to Know About Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens Legend
Loyalty
Some American football players switch teams multiple times throughout their careers. Others stay loyal to a single team; this is what Lewis did. He was with the Baltimore Ravens for all 17 years of his professional football career, never switching or being transferred. The Baltimore Ravens started in 1996, and when Lewis retired, he was the last original player on the team. When the team’s first line-up was selected, Lewis was the first round pick and the 26th overall. He would go on to lead the Ravens in tackles in 14 out of his 17 seasons. In order to join the NFL draft, he gave up on his final year of studies at the University of Miami.
Baltimore Ravens Records
Having played for the Baltimore Ravens for close to two decades, it should come as no surprise that Lewis broke some of the team’s records. He currently holds the record for the most seasons played (17), the most career opponent fumbles recovered (20), and the most career games (228).
Hall of Famer
Lewis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, six years after his retirement. This was the earliest possible time that he was eligible for inclusion. He’s one of six Baltimore Ravens players to have become a Hall of Famer. During his enshrinement speech, which lasted over half an hour, he spoke at length about football and his life in general. His speech also covered his family and faith and what they both mean to him.
NFL Records
To this day, Lewis is the only NFL player to have a minimum of 30 career interceptions (31, to be exact) and 40 career sacks (he ended his career with 41.5 sacks). He also came close to breaking Jack Ham’s record of 53 take-aways by a linebacker. Another fact is that the Baltimore Ravens legend is one of a small number of players to have competed in a Pro Bowl in three decades (1990s, 2000s, and 2010s).
Tackling Records
There are many more records that Lewis set or broke during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens. He made a significant impact as a tackler, gaining recognition for his physicality and use of the move. He currently holds the record for most career combined tackles (2,059) and most career solo tackles (1,568), along with most solo tackles in a season (225 in the 2003 season).
Sporting Activity Before Becoming a Professional Footballer
During his time at Kathleen High School in Lakeland, Florida, Lewis was, of course, one of the most successful football players. He was also into wrestling and ended up becoming a state champion, winning the Florida Class 4A wrestling title in 1993. He was clearly skilled at both sports, though football ended up becoming his calling.
Murder Trial
Lewis’ career nearly came to an end in 2000 when he was involved in a fight that resulted in two people being stabbed to death. He was initially charged with murder, though the charge was later dropped. He did, however, plead guilty to the obstruction of justice and was put on probation. The NFL also fined him a quarter of a million dollars. Both the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL had to work hard to manage the crisis. They succeeded, as Lewis was able to put the incident behind him and continue breaking records.
Stint on Dancing With the Stars
Many professional athletes dabble in all sorts of things after retiring, and Lewis is no different. He took on a range of jobs since leaving football, one of which was being a contestant on the 28th season of Dancing With the Stars. The show started in September 2019, though Lewis had to quit in the second week due to an injury. In his first week, he and his partner Cheryl Burke scored 15 points, which was the fourth-lowest score of the 12 contestants.
Super Bowl Success
Lewis won two Super Bowls: XXXV in 2000 against the New York Giants and XLVII in 2013 against the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens won 34-7 against the Giants and 34-31 against the 49ers. Lewis won the Super Bowl MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in 2001 for his performance during the previous 2000 season. Only one other Baltimore Ravens player has won this award (Joe Flacco in 2013). Lewis was awarded the MVP title thanks to his two assists, three tackles, and four defensed passes during the game.
AP Defensive Player of the Year
Because of his exceptional skill at defending, Lewis was awarded AP Defensive Player of the Year not once, but twice. The first time he won this award was in 2000; the second was in 2003. The Associated Press has given out this award annually since 1971, with a panel of 50 AP writers voting to determine the winner. Only a handful of players have won it multiple times. Three have won it three times; Lewis is one of five players to have won it twice. Lewis is also one of two players to be awarded AP Defensive Player of the Year and the Super Bowl MVP in the same year.
Main image credit: © Douglas DeFelice-Imagn Images
