American · Bartow, USA · Born 15 May 1975American football linebacker who played 17 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, two-time Super Bowl champion and NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Ray Lewis was born in Bartow, Florida in 1975. Baltimore Ravens selected him 26th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft from Miami. His 17-season career produced 2,059 career tackles — the most in NFL history — along with 41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions and 13 Pro Bowl selections. He won Super Bowl championships in XXXV and XLVII and was named Super Bowl XXXV MVP after a dominant performance against the Giants. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award twice (2000, 2003). He led his team in tackles in 15 of his 17 seasons. He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Dominant linebacker play, leadership, emotional pregame speeches, and anchoring two Super Bowl championship defenses
His pre-game routine — the "squirrel dance" and passionate locker room speeches — became as iconic as his on-field performances.
Did You Know?How They Played
Aggressive, instinctive middle linebacker with exceptional speed, tackling ability, and defensive leadership
Lasting Impact
Considered one of the greatest linebackers and defensive players in NFL history, transformed the Ravens into a defensive powerhouse
Career Honours
- Super Bowl XXXV MVP
- Super Bowl XLVII Champion
- 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- 13x Pro Bowl
- 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2003)
- 7x First-team All-Pro
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
| Team | Period | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 1996–2012 | 228 |
American Athletes