Ray Lewis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ray Lewis

Lewis in 2015
No. 52
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1975-05-15) May 15, 1975 (age 50) Bartow, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:	Kathleen (Lakeland, Florida)
College:	Miami (FL) (1993–1995)
NFL Draft:	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26
Career history
Baltimore Ravens (1996)
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XXXV, XLVII) Super Bowl MVP (XXXV) 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2003) 7× First-team All-Pro (1999–2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009) 3× Second-team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2010) 13× Pro Bowl (1997–2001, 2003, 2004, 2006–2011) 3× NFL solo tackles leader (1997, 1999, 2001) 3× NFL combined tackles leader (1997, 1999, 2001) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor First-team All-American (1995) Third-team All-American (1994) Most career combined tackles: 2,059 Most career solo tackles: 1,568 Most solo tackles in a season: 156 (1997)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 2,059 Sacks: 41.5 Pass deflections: 67 Interceptions: 31 Forced fumbles: 17 Fumble recoveries: 20
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr. (born May 15, 1975) is a famous American former professional football player. He was a linebacker and played his entire 17-year career for the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was named an All-American. Many people think he is one of the greatest linebackers ever.

The Ravens picked Lewis in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft. When he retired after the 2012 season, he was the last player left from the team's very first season. Lewis quickly became a leader on defense. He led the team in tackles as a rookie, which he did 14 times during his career.

In 2000, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He led the Ravens' amazing defense, which set a record for the fewest points allowed (165) and fewest rushing yards allowed (970) in a 16-game season. They won Super Bowl XXXV. Lewis was also the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, and the first to win it for the winning team.

Lewis won his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 2003. He was the sixth player to win this award more than once. After an injury in the 2012 regular season, Lewis came back for the Ravens' playoffs. He won his second Super Bowl in his very last NFL game. On February 3, 2018, Lewis was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of being eligible.

During his time with the Ravens, he made 2,059 total tackles and 1,568 solo tackles. Both of these are NFL records. Because of his many awards and amazing play, Lewis is seen as the greatest middle linebacker in NFL history. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl 13 times and was an All-Pro 10 times. He is also thought to be the greatest Baltimore Raven ever and one of the greatest defensive players of all time.

Growing Up and High School Years

Raymond Anthony Jenkins was born in Bartow, Florida on May 15, 1975. He was the oldest of five children. His mother was 16 when he was born, and his father was not around much. Lewis quickly became like the man of the house. He helped his sisters with their hair and made sure his younger brother got to daycare. When his father was no longer in touch, he changed his last name to Lewis, his mother's boyfriend's last name. This happened when he started at Kathleen High School in Lakeland, Florida.

Lewis was a great high school football player. He was also a talented wrestler and won a state title in Florida. He later shared that his stepfather was very mean to his mother. He started doing push-ups with a deck of 52 playing cards to get stronger to protect her. This is why he chose the number 52 for his jersey in his professional career. He is the older brother of Keon Lattimore, who was a running back for the University of Maryland. Lewis was an All-American linebacker in high school. He made up for his smaller size with his strong effort and natural instincts.

College Football Career

Lewis went to the University of Miami and played for the Miami Hurricanes football team. As a freshman, he played right away and became a starter for the last five games. He made 81 tackles and was named to the freshman All-American team.

In his second year, Lewis was named first-team All-American and All-Big East. He led the Big East conference with 153 tackles. His team had the best defense in the country.

Lewis had an even better junior year. He was again named to the All-American and All-Big East teams. He was also a runner-up for the Butkus Award, which goes to the best college linebacker. Lewis finished his junior season with 160 tackles. This was the second-highest in University of Miami history.

Lewis led the Big East in tackles for his last two seasons. He had the fifth most tackles in Miami history, even though he only played for three seasons.

After the 1995 season, Lewis decided to leave college early for the NFL draft. The Baltimore Ravens, who were playing their first season, picked Lewis 26th overall. Lewis was the Ravens' second draft pick ever. He later earned his college degree in Arts and Science in 2004.

Professional Football Career

1996: Rookie Season

Lewis was seen as the best inside linebacker before the 1996 NFL Draft. In his first game, he had seven tackles and an unusual interception. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Lewis led the NFL with 15 tackles for loss and the Ravens with 110 tackles in his rookie season. He also had two and a half sacks and one interception. The Ravens finished with a 4–12 record.

1997: First Pro Bowl

In 1997, Lewis made an NFL-best and career-high 184 tackles. This included 156 solo tackles, which was the most ever in a single season. He earned his first Pro Bowl spot that year. He also had four sacks and one interception.

1998: Second Pro Bowl

In 1998, Lewis went to the Pro Bowl again. He had 120 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions. He led the Ravens in tackles for the third year in a row. He was also named to The Sporting News All-Pro Team.

1999: Leading the League in Tackles

In 1999, Lewis led the NFL in tackles with 165. He was named to his third straight Pro Bowl and the All-Pro first team. He also had three and a half sacks and three interceptions. Lewis won the 1999 NFL Alumni Linebacker Of The Year award.

2000: Super Bowl Champions!

In 2000, Lewis led a defense that many call the greatest in NFL history for one season. The team set a record for the fewest points allowed (165) and fewest rushing yards allowed (970) in a 16-game season. They also had four shutouts. Lewis finished the regular season with 137 tackles.

After the regular season, he was named an All-Pro and chosen for the Pro Bowl again. In the playoffs, Lewis had an interception that he returned 50 yards for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. Lewis was named NFL Defensive Player of The Year for the 2000 season. The Ravens won their first Super Bowl, beating the New York Giants 34–7. Lewis was named Super Bowl XXXV MVP.

2001: More All-Pro Honors

In 2001, Lewis was chosen for his fifth Pro Bowl in a row. He led the NFL in tackles with 162 and was named first-team All-Pro. The Ravens made the playoffs with a 10–6 record.

2002: Injury Setback

In 2002, Lewis played only five games because of a shoulder injury. He still had 58 tackles and two interceptions. This injury stopped his streak of five straight Pro Bowl selections.

2003: Second Defensive Player of the Year Award

Lewis was the top vote-getter for the 2003 AP All-Pro team. He also won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award for the second time. He was named to his sixth Pro Bowl. Lewis finished with 161 tackles, six interceptions, and one touchdown. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Month for November.

2004: Another Pro Bowl Season

In 2004, Lewis was named first-team All-Pro again. He played 15 games and had 146 total tackles. He earned his seventh Pro Bowl nomination.

2005: Season Cut Short by Injury

Lewis's 2005 season ended early because of an injury in week 6. He had 46 tackles and one interception in the first six games.

2006: Leading the Best Defense

Lewis (#52) brings down Willie Parker in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, 2006

In 2006, Lewis led the Ravens defense to be the best in the NFL in many areas. This included total yards allowed and points allowed per game. Lewis missed two games but still had 103 tackles and a personal best of five sacks. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl but did not play due to a hand injury.

2007: Still a Top Tackler

Lewis with the Baltimore Ravens, 2007

Even though the Ravens had a tough 5–11 season, Lewis was the team's top tackler. He had 16 tackles, recovered a fumble, and returned an interception for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. He earned his ninth Pro Bowl nomination. He finished the season with 120 total tackles and two interceptions.

2008: AFC Championship Run

Lewis with the Ravens facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008

In 2008, Lewis helped lead the Ravens to the AFC Championship game. He had 117 tackles and three interceptions. He was named a Pro Bowl starter for the tenth time and a first-team All-Pro for the sixth time. After the season, he signed a new contract to stay with the Ravens.

2009: Team of the Decade

In 2009, Lewis was named first-team All-Pro for the seventh time and chosen for his 11th Pro Bowl. He had an AFC-leading 134 tackles. In September 2009, Sporting News Magazine picked Lewis for their Team of the Decade (2000s). He was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1st team All-2000s Team.

2010: Making History

In 2010, Lewis was named second-team All-Pro for the third time and chosen for his 12th Pro Bowl. He had 139 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions. On November 21, 2010, Lewis became only the second player in NFL history to have at least 30 interceptions and 30 sacks in his career. He was the fastest player to do this.

2011: Final Pro Bowl

In 2011, Lewis was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in week 3. He was chosen for his 13th and final Pro Bowl. He led the Ravens with 95 tackles, even though he missed four games. On October 16, 2011, Lewis became the first player in NFL history with at least 40 sacks and 30 interceptions.

2012: Final Year and Second Super Bowl

Lewis at a post-Super Bowl XLVII celebration at M&T Bank Stadium, February 2013

Lewis tore his triceps on October 14, 2012, and had surgery. On January 2, 2013, Lewis announced he would retire after the 2012–13 NFL playoffs.

He returned for the playoffs and helped the Ravens win their Wild Card game. The Ravens then beat the Denver Broncos in a thrilling double-overtime game. They also defeated the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship.

Lewis's final NFL game was Super Bowl XLVII, where the Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers 34–31. Lewis led the NFL in tackles during the postseason with 51.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Ray Lewis's Legacy in Football

Lewis' jersey exhibited at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Throughout his career, Lewis was known as a strong leader and a tough player at middle linebacker. He led his team in tackles in 12 of his 14 seasons. The Ravens defense was so good that they did not allow a single 100-yard rusher in 51 games in a row.

Lewis was also a complete defender. His 31 interceptions are among the top five for NFL linebackers. Today, he is seen as one of the most dominant linebackers in NFL history. He was even chosen as the third-best linebacker of all time on the show The Sports List.

Team owner Steve Bisciotti wanted to put up a statue of Lewis outside M&T Bank Stadium. On September 4, 2014, a statue of Lewis was revealed there.

Lewis has been mentioned in TV shows like The Wire and movies like The Rundown. He has also appeared in music videos. Lewis was featured in TV ads for NFL Network, Reebok, Under Armour, Old Spice, and Eastern Motors. He was on the cover of Madden NFL 2005 video game. He was also part of NFL Network's documentary series A Football Life. He was named to the NFL 100 All Time Team.

Other Activities and Appearances

Lewis opened a restaurant called Ray Lewis Full Moon Bar-B-Que in Baltimore. It was open from 2005 to 2008. He also had many national company endorsements.

In 2004, Lewis was on the cover of the popular Madden NFL 2005 video game. In 2006, it was announced that Lewis would start a racing team called S&L Racing. However, his attempt to join NASCAR racing did not work out.

On March 13, 2013, Lewis joined ESPN as a football expert. He left ESPN in 2016. On June 20, 2017, he was hired by Fox Sports 1.

Lewis competed against tight end Tony Gonzalez on the show Lip Sync Battle in 2017. He won by performing songs by Al Green and Nelly. Nelly even joined him for his performance.

In August 2019, Lewis was one of the celebrities on season 28 of Dancing with the Stars. He had to leave the competition because of a foot injury that needed surgery.

Charitable Work

Lewis has done a lot of charity work throughout his career. He started the Ray Lewis 52 Foundation. This group helps young people who are in need. The foundation has done things like adopting 10 families for the holidays in Baltimore. They also hold an annual celebrity auction and bowling tournament. All the money raised helps the Ray Lewis Foundation.

Lewis has also worked to get leaders to support sports for people with disabilities. He received an award for his kindness and community work in 2006.

Awards and Honors

Since his first year in 1996, Lewis has won many NFL awards. He was named Defensive Player of the Year twice (2000 and 2003). He was also Super Bowl MVP after winning Super Bowl XXXV in 2000. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl 13 times. He was a First Team All-Pro player seven times and a Second Team All-Pro three times. He was also a two-time All-American in college (1994 and 1995).

On May 11, 2010, a part of Baltimore's North Avenue was renamed "Ray Lewis Way." This was to honor him and his charity work.

Lewis had amazing career totals. He made 2,059 total tackles (1,568 solo), 41.5 sacks, and 31 interceptions. He was chosen for 13 NFL Pro Bowl games, which is a record for a middle linebacker. He led the NFL in tackles five times. His 10 total All-Pro selections are a record for a middle linebacker. In 21 playoff games, Lewis made 214 tackles and had six forced fumbles.

Lewis was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. This was his first year of being eligible. Lewis joined his former teammate Jonathan Ogden in the Hall of Fame. They were the Ravens' first two draft picks when the team moved to Baltimore.

Personal Life

Lewis is a Christian. His strong faith was featured in a Sports Illustrated story in 2006. He has six children, four boys and two girls.

His son Ray III played college football at the University of Miami and later Coastal Carolina. Ray III also played indoor football.

His son Rayshad played at Utah State and the University of Maryland.

Michael Phelps, a famous swimmer and Ravens fan, said that he found his purpose to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics after getting advice from Lewis.

Lewis is a fan of the English soccer team Manchester City FC. In 2015, Lewis's book, I Feel Like Going On: Life, Game, and Glory, was published.

Images for kids

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  Lewis on the sidelines with the Baltimore Ravens, 2005

See also

In Spanish: Ray Lewis para niños