Editing Ray Lewis (section)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1975)}}
{{other people}}
{{pp-move}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Ray Lewis
| image       = Ray Lewis 2015 (cropped).jpg
| image_size  =
| alt         = 
| caption     = Lewis in 2015
| number      = 52
| position    = [[Linebacker]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1975|5|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bartow, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 1
| weight_lb   = 240
| high_school = [[Kathleen Senior High School|Kathleen]] {{nowrap|([[Lakeland, Florida]])}}
| college     = [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami (FL)]] (1993–1995)
| draftyear   = 1996
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 26
| pastteams   =
* [[Baltimore Ravens]] ({{NFL Year|1996|2012}})
| highlights  =
* 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXXV|XXXV]], [[Super Bowl XLVII|XLVII]])
* [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Super Bowl MVP]] ([[Super Bowl XXXV|XXXV]]) 
* 2× [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] (2000, 2003)
* 7× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1999 All-Pro Team|1999]]–[[2001 All-Pro Team|2001]], [[2003 All-Pro Team|2003]], [[2004 All-Pro Team|2004]], [[2008 All-Pro Team|2008]], [[2009 All-Pro Team|2009]])
* 3× Second-team All-Pro ([[1997 All-Pro Team|1997]], [[1998 All-Pro Team|1998]], [[2010 All-Pro Team|2010]])
* 13× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1998 Pro Bowl|1997]]–[[2002 Pro Bowl|2001]], [[2004 Pro Bowl|2003]], [[2005 Pro Bowl|2004]], [[2007 Pro Bowl|2006]]–[[2012 Pro Bowl|2011]])
* 3× [[List of NFL annual tackles leaders#Solo tackles leaders|NFL solo tackles leader]] (1997, 1999, 2001)
* 3× [[List of NFL annual tackles leaders#Combined tackles leaders|NFL combined tackles leader]] (1997, 1999, 2001)
* [[National Football League 2000s All-Decade Team|NFL 2000s All-Decade Team]]
* [[NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
* [[Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor]]
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1995 College Football All-America Team|1995]])
* Third-team All-American ([[1994 College Football All-America Team|1994]])
; NFL records
* [[List of National Football League career tackles leaders|Most career combined tackles]]: 2,059
* Most career solo tackles: 1,568
* Most solo tackles in a season: 156 (1997)
| statlabel1  = [[Tackle (football move)#Gridiron football|Total tackles]]
| statvalue1  = 2,059
| statlabel2  = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2  = 41.5
| statlabel3  = [[Pass deflected|Pass deflections]]
| statvalue3  = 67
| statlabel4  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue4  = 31
| statlabel5  = Forced [[fumble]]s
| statvalue5  = 17
| statlabel6  = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6  = 20
| statlabel7  = [[Defensive touchdown]]s
| statvalue7  = 3
| pfr         = L/LewiRa00
| HOF         = ray-lewis 
}}

'''Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr.''' (born May 15, 1975) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who spent his entire 17-year career as a [[linebacker]] for the [[Baltimore Ravens]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami Hurricanes]], earning [[College Football All-America Team|All-America]] honors. He is considered one of the greatest linebackers of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karpovich |first=Todd |date=2022-08-04 |title=Ravens Ray Lewis Named Greatest Linebacker of All-Time |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/news/ravens-ray-lewis-greatest-lb |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Sports Illustrated Baltimore Ravens News, Analysis and More |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ray Lewis |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/ray-lewis |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref>

Lewis was selected by the Ravens in the first round of the [[1996 NFL draft]], and upon his retirement following the [[2012 Baltimore Ravens season|2012 season]], was the last remaining active player from the team's inaugural season. Lewis immediately became a leader on defense and led the team in [[tackle (football move)|tackles]] as a rookie, the first of 14 times he led the Ravens in tackles.

In 2000, Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with the stabbing deaths of two men; he testified as a key witness at the trial, and a jury determined the killings were acts of [[self-defense]].<ref name="CBSnews">{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Eric |date=January 24, 2013 |title=5 Common Misconceptions About Ray Lewis' Murder Trial |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/5-common-misconceptions-about-ray-lewis-murder-trial/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201090906/https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/5-common-misconceptions-about-ray-lewis-murder-trial/ |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |publisher=cbsnews.com}}</ref><ref name="sportsline1">{{Cite web |date=May 2, 2004 |title=Ravens' Lewis reaches settlement with victim's daughter |url=http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7300688 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126081207/http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7300688 |archive-date=November 26, 2007 |access-date=September 28, 2010 |website=Sportsline.com}}</ref> The following season, he was named [[National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] and led the Ravens' record-setting defense, which established a 16-game single-season record for the fewest points allowed (165) and the fewest rushing yards allowed (970), to victory in [[Super Bowl XXXV]]. Lewis also became the second linebacker to win the [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award]], and the first to win the award on the winning [[Super Bowl]] team.<ref name="sportsillustrated.cnn.com">{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2001 |title=Endorsement exile: Disney, Wheaties among those passing on MVP Lewis |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2001/playoffs/news/2001/01/31/lewis_endorsements_ap/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113014016/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2001/playoffs/news/2001/01/31/lewis_endorsements_ap/ |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |website=SI.CNN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>{{Efn|[[Chuck Howley]] of the [[Dallas Cowboys]] was the first to win the award, doing so in [[Super Bowl V]] despite his team losing. He is the only player to win the award on the losing team.|name=|group=note}} Lewis won his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 2003, becoming the sixth player to win the award multiple times.<ref name="dpoy">{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2003 |title=Lewis wins DPOY |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1697627 |access-date=February 25, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226005638/https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1697627 |url-status=live }}</ref> After a triceps tear that sidelined him for most of the [[2012 NFL season|2012 regular season]], Lewis returned for the Ravens' playoff run and earned his second [[Super Bowl XLVII|Super Bowl victory]] in his final NFL game. On February 3, 2018, the fifth anniversary of his final game, Lewis was selected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in his first year of eligibility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosenthal |first=Gregg |date=February 3, 2018 |title=Ray Lewis, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss lead HOF class |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ray-lewis-terrell-owens-randy-moss-lead-hof-class-0ap3000000913913 |access-date=February 25, 2022 |website=NFL.com |archive-date=October 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001122522/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000913913/article/ray-lewis-terrell-owens-randy-moss-highlight-hof-class |url-status=live }}</ref>

During his tenure with the Ravens, he accumulated 2,059 career combined tackles, including 1,568 solo tackles, both of which are NFL records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Tackles Combined Career Leaders (since 1987) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/tackles_combined_career.htm |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513192419/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/tackles_combined_career.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Tackles Career Leaders (since 1994) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/tackles_solo_career.htm |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513192415/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/tackles_solo_career.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to his numerous accolades and prodigious football play, Lewis is widely considered to be the greatest middle linebacker in NFL history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McVey |first=Rob |date=February 18, 2022 |title=25 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History |url=https://athlonsports.com/nfl/25-greatest-linebackers-nfl-history |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=AthlonSports.com |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508112534/https://athlonsports.com/nfl/25-greatest-linebackers-nfl-history |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2013 |title=Ray Lewis' legacy: Greatest inside linebacker in NFL history? |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ray-lewis-legacy-greatest-inside-linebacker-in-nfl-history-0ap1000000128157 |access-date=March 15, 2021 |website=NFL.com |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226164307/https://www.nfl.com/news/ray-lewis-legacy-greatest-inside-linebacker-in-nfl-history-0ap1000000128157 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kenyon |first=David |date=October 23, 2018 |title=The Top 10 NFL Linebackers of All Time |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2800497-the-top-10-nfl-linebackers-of-all-time |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |archive-date=February 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223034735/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2800497-the-top-10-nfl-linebackers-of-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rush |first=Nathan |date=February 7, 2013 |title=25 Greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL History |url=https://athlonsports.com/nfl/25-greatest-middle-linebackers-nfl-history |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=AthlonSports.com |archive-date=February 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223034742/https://athlonsports.com/nfl/25-greatest-middle-linebackers-nfl-history |url-status=live }}</ref> He was a 13-time [[Pro Bowl]]er, a 10-time [[All-Pro]], and one of the few players in NFL history to play in a Pro Bowl in three decades (1990s, 2000s, and 2010s). He is also considered to be the greatest Baltimore Raven of all time,<ref name=ravensbio>{{Cite web |title=Lewis Bio |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=1110 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214146/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=1110 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=August 16, 2007 |website=baltimoreravens.com}}</ref> as well as one of the greatest defensive players of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mori |first=Dan |date=October 25, 2010 |title=NFL Power Rankings: Top 50 Greatest Defensive Players In NFL History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/492690-the-top-50-greatest-defensive-players-in-nfl-history |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513192411/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/492690-the-top-50-greatest-defensive-players-in-nfl-history |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodpaster |first=Mike |date=January 17, 2021 |title=The Top-20 Defensive Players in NFL History |url=https://thegruelingtruth.com/football/nfl/the-top-20-defensive-players-in-nfl-history/ |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=The Grueling Truth |language=en-US |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513192414/https://thegruelingtruth.com/football/nfl/the-top-20-defensive-players-in-nfl-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{TOC limit|2}}