- In full:
- Ray Anthony Lewis
- Awards And Honors:
- Super Bowl
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2018)
- 2 Super Bowl championships
- 7 All-Pro selections
- 13 Pro Bowl selections
- 2003 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- 2000 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Education:
- University of Miami
- Height/Weight:
- 6 ft 1 inch, 240 lb (1.85 m, 108 kg)
- Position:
- linebacker
- Jersey Number:
- 52 (Baltimore Ravens, 1996â2012)
- Draft:
- Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (26th overall) of the 1996 NFL draft.
- Forced Fumbles:
- 19
- Games Played:
- 228
- Sacks:
- 41.5
Ray Lewis
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Who is Ray Lewis?
Ray Lewis (born May 15, 1975) is an American former professional football player recognized as one of the greatest linebackers in National Football League (NFL) history.
He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning All-America honors. The Baltimore Ravens selected Lewis as the 26th overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft. In 2000, Lewis faced legal issues but continued to excel, leading the Ravens to their first Super Bowl victory in 2001 and earning the Super Bowl MVP award.
A thirteen-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Lewis retired after winning his second Super Bowl in 2012 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What position did Ray Lewis play in football?
Ray Lewis played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). After playing football in high school, he played middle linebacker at the University of Miami, earning Freshman All-America honors. The Baltimore Ravens selected Lewis in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft. He led the league in tackles in 1997 and was selected to his first Pro Bowl that same year. Over his career, Lewis was named All-Pro seven times and selected to 13 Pro Bowls. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award twice, in 2000 and 2003. Lewis retired after winning his second Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
For which NFL team did Ray Lewis play his entire career?
Ray Lewis played his entire NFL career for the Baltimore Ravens. Drafted by the Ravens in 1996, he played linebacker for them until his retirement in 2012. Over his career, Lewis led the Ravens to two Super Bowl championships and earned the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award twice. He was also selected for 13 Pro Bowls and 7 All-Pro selections. After his final Super Bowl win, Lewis retired and was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some major achievements of Ray Lewis in his football career?
Ray Lewis, born May 15, 1975, is widely regarded as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history.
Key achievements:
- Defensive Player of the Year He was named the NFLâs Defensive Player of the Year twice, in 2000 and 2003.
- Super Bowl MVP In 2001, Lewis led his team to victory and was named the gameâs Most Valuable Player.
- All-Pro Selections Lewis was named All-Pro seven times.
- Pro Bowl Selections He was selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times.
- Super Bowl Championships He won two Super Bowl championships.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Lewis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What made Ray Lewis famous as a leader on his team?
Ray Lewis gained fame as a leader through his outstanding play and passion for the game. After the Baltimore Ravens drafted him in 1996, Lewis led the league in tackles in 1997 and played in his first Pro Bowl. Despite facing legal issues in 2000, Lewis led the Ravens' defense to be the highest-ranked in the league and earned the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award. In 2001, he led his team to a Super Bowl victory over the New York Giants and was named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player. Lewis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Ray Lewis (born May 15, 1975, Bartow, Florida, U.S.) is an American professional gridiron football player who is considered to be one of the greatest linebackers in National Football League (NFL) history.
After starring in several sports in high school, Lewis enrolled at the University of Miami, where he became a middle linebacker and was named to the Freshman All-America team. In his junior yearâhis last at the universityâLewis finished the season with a team-high 160 tackles and earned All-America honours. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 26th overall selection of the 1996 NFL draft. In 1997 he led the league in tackles and played in his first Pro Bowl.
During the off-season in 2000, Lewis encountered legal difficulties. On January 31 he and several friends attended a post-Super Bowl party at a nightclub in Atlanta, and, as the party was breaking up, a fight erupted outside the club. When it was over, two men had been stabbed to death, and Lewis and two companions were eventually charged with the murders. During a four-week trial in the spring of 2000, the charge against Lewis was dropped (he pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in exchange for testifying against his codefendants), but his reputation was nevertheless tarnished, and many wondered if his play would be adversely affected. However, the following autumn he led a Baltimore defense that finished the regular season as the highest-ranked in the league and gained a reputation as one of the best players in NFL history. Lewis was named the NFLâs Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts, and the Ravens finished the year by beginning an unexpected postseason run that saw them earn the franchiseâs first Super Bowl berth in January 2001. Lewis led his team to a convincing 34â7 victory over the New York Giants, and he was named the gameâs Most Valuable Player.
In 2001 Lewis was selected to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl and was named All-Pro for a third straight year, but a separated shoulder in 2002 limited him to just five games. He returned the next season and won his second Defensive Player of the Year award after again leading the NFL in tackles. After suffering a serious hamstring injury in 2005, Lewis headed his second top-ranked defense in 2006, and in 2009 he was named All-Pro for a seventh time. His play fell off in the following years (although the popular Lewis was still elected to the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2011), and in 2012 he tore a triceps muscle and played in only six regular-season games. He returned for the postseason and helped Baltimore reach the second Super Bowl in team history. Lewis retired from professional football after the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers to win the championship, and the outspoken Lewis quickly became a television football commentator. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.