American · Bartow, USA · Born 15 May 1975Ray Lewis was a Hall of Fame middle linebacker and emotional leader of the Baltimore Ravens, winning Super Bowl MVP honors and two championships.
Ray Lewis turned his pregame entrance into something opponents had to mentally prepare for separately from the game itself -- a dance performed at the tunnel before kickoff that became so anticipated it was broadcast as appointment viewing in its own right, an intensity ritual that arguably no other defensive player in NFL history has matched for sheer psychological effect on both his own team and the opponent watching. That intensity translated directly onto the field: two Super Bowl titles, a Super Bowl MVP award, and thirteen Pro Bowl selections across a career built on reading opposing offenses faster than the players actually running the plays, a trait teammates and coaches consistently pointed to as separating him from bigger, faster linebackers who never developed the same instincts. Lewis's leadership style was built on demanding the same standard from teammates that he held himself to, a coaching-from-the-field approach that made him as influential in Baltimore's locker room as any actual coach on the sideline during his prime years there.
Legendary Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker, two-time Super Bowl champion
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
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018)
- Super Bowl XXXV MVP
- 2x Super Bowl champion
- 13x Pro Bowl
- 7x First-team All-Pro
| Team | Period | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 1996–2012 | 228 |
American Athletes