Ray Lucas facts for kids

Raymond J. Lucas, born on August 6, 1972, is a former American football player. He was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). Ray played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He played in the NFL for seven years, from 1996 to 2002. His teams included the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins. After his playing career, he became a studio analyst. He worked for the show Jets Nation on the New York City sports network SportsNet New York.

Ray Lucas's Early Life

Ray Lucas was born in 1972. His father, Tom, was serving in the Vietnam War at the time. Ray grew up and played high school football at Harrison High School. This school is located in his hometown of Harrison, New Jersey.

Ray Lucas's NFL Career

Ray Lucas spent most of his time in the NFL as a backup quarterback. This means he was ready to play if the main quarterback got hurt or needed a break.

Playing for the New York Jets

During the 1999 NFL season, the Jets' starting quarterback, Vinny Testaverde, got injured. Another player, Rick Mirer, took over for a while. Later, Ray Lucas became the starting quarterback. He lost his first two games but then won four games in a row. This helped the Jets finish the season with an 8-8 record.

Ray Lucas was a favorite player of coach Bill Parcells. Parcells coached both the Patriots and the Jets. He even brought Lucas from the Patriots to the Jets. In 1997, Parcells used Lucas in a clever play. He put Lucas at quarterback and the backup quarterback, Neil O'Donnell, at wide receiver. Lucas ran the ball himself for 15 yards. This play confused the opposing team and helped the Jets win.

Playing for the Miami Dolphins

After his time with the Jets, Lucas played for the Miami Dolphins in 2001 and 2002. In 2001, he did not play much. However, in 2002, he got to start six games. Because he was a big player, he often played quarterback in important situations near the goal line.

The Dolphins started the 2002 season very well. But then their starting quarterback, Jay Fiedler, broke his thumb. Ray Lucas stepped in to lead the team for the next six games. During these games, he threw 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

One game in 2002 was especially tough for Lucas. Playing against the Buffalo Bills, he had 6 turnovers. This included 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles. The player who caught the most passes from Lucas in that game was actually a Buffalo player, Nate Clements.

Life After Football

After his football career, Ray Lucas continued to be involved in sports and his community.

Sports Broadcasting

For several years, Ray Lucas worked for SportsNet New York. He was an analyst for shows about the Jets. He would talk about pre-game and post-game events. He left this role in 2020.

In 2009, Lucas also joined the Rutgers Football Radio Network. He worked as a color analyst, helping to explain the game during broadcasts. He stopped this role in 2021 to coach his old high school football team.

Community Work

In March 2008, Ray Lucas was honored. He was named to the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2014, Lucas helped write a book. It was called Under Pressure: How Playing Football Almost Cost Me Everything and Why I'd Do It All Again.

In March 2018, Lucas became the Executive Director of the Housing Authority in his hometown of Harrison, New Jersey. His father had held the same position for 27 years.