Ray Lewis

A 17-season Baltimore Raven who led the team in tackles 14 times, won two Super Bowls, and amassed 2,059 career combined tackles.

Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr., born May 15, 1975, is an American former professional football linebacker who played 17 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He led the team in tackles for 14 seasons, starting in 1997. In 2000, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year and won Super Bowl XXXV MVP after leading a record-setting defense to victory. He earned his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 2003. After missing most of the 2012 regular season with a triceps tear, he returned for the playoffs to win his second Super Bowl in his final game. On February 3, 2018, he was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He accumulated 2,059 career combined tackles and 1,568 solo tackles, though the NFL does not officially recognize these as records. A 13-time Pro Bowler and 10-time All-Pro, he played in a Pro Bowl in three decades (1990s, 2000s, and 2010s).

Quick Facts

Position: Linebacker
Born: 15 May 1975
Birthplace: Bartow, Florida, U.S.
High school: Kathleen (Lakeland, Florida)
College: Miami (FL) (1993–1995)
Draft year: 1996
Draft pick: 26
Former teams: Baltimore Ravens (1996, 2012)

Lore & Background

Lewis arrived in Baltimore as a first-round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft, becoming the last remaining active player from the team's inaugural season upon his retirement. His college career at the Miami Hurricanes saw him earn All-America honors and finish as runner-up for the Butkus Award in his junior year, tallying 160 tackles. Early in his professional tenure, he faced significant adversity; in 2000, he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice regarding stabbing deaths but testified that the killings were acts of self-defense.

That same season, he led a unit that allowed only 165 points and 970 rushing yards, setting single-season records. Lewis became the second linebacker ever to win Super Bowl MVP and the first to do so on the winning team. His career was defined by consistency and dominance, as he led the Ravens in tackles for 14 seasons and secured two Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Reader's Guide

Fans can trace Lewis's journey from Bartow, Florida, where he was the oldest of five siblings. He changed his surname to Ray Lewis after his father became less frequent in his life, adopting a regimen of 52 push-ups daily to protect his mother from an abusive stepfather, which inspired his iconic #52 jersey. He attended Kathleen High School, winning a state wrestling championship and earning All-America honors as a linebacker despite his smaller size. Lewis enrolled at the University of Miami, where he was an immediate contributor as a freshman and earned first-team All-American honors in his sophomore season with 153 tackles. After forgoing his final year of eligibility following the 1995 season, the Ravens selected him 26th overall in 1996. He eventually earned his undergraduate degree in Arts and Science from the University of Maryland University College in 2004.

Did You Know?

Lewis changed his last name from Jackson to Lewis after his father became less frequent in his life.
He wears jersey #52 because he started a push-up regimen with a deck of 52 cards to get stronger and protect his mother.
In 1997, he recorded 184 tackles, a remarkable total though not an official NFL record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Ray Lewis?

He served as the Baltimore Ravens' starting middle linebacker from 1996 through 2012, becoming the most iconic player in team history. His aggressive style defined the defensive identity during the franchise's championship years.

What are his biggest career accolades?

Lewis received thirteen Pro Bowl selections and guided the team to Super Bowl victories in both XXXV and XLVII. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 for his contributions to the sport.