Baltimore Ravens: Ranking the 10 Best Players in Team History
By Joe Serpico
Ray Lewis
Nov 1, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis gets introduced during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
No matter if you are a fan or not, when you think of Ravens football, the first person that comes to mind is Ray Lewis. His passion not only for football, but for Baltimore has made him an icon in the city.
He is only one of five players to win the AP Defensive Player of the Year award twice. He was the leader of the Ravens 2000 defense that gave up an all-time low of 165 points that season. He is the only Raven to be a part of both Super Bowl wins. The list goes on and on of all the achievements the greatest linebacker of this generation has made for Baltimore.
There have been several great linebackers to play in the NFL, but I will go out on a limb to say that none meant more to his team than Lewis. He was a thirteen-time Pro-Bowler, ten-time All-Pro and a Super Bowl MVP for a defense that was under his leadership for his entire 17-year career. His last game in a Ravens uniform was the Ravens Super Bowl victory during the 2012-2013 season, the perfect ending to his sure-to-be Hall of Fame career.
What is more remarkable for Ray is that he has found a great role with ESPN following the end of his playing days. It took him some time to get acclimated to television, but his insight on how defenses operate is second to none and is a real joy to watch.
Twenty more years from now, someone will ask who was the best Raven of all-time. That answer should always be Ray Lewis.