Baltimore Ravens: Ranking the 10 Best Players in Team History

Jamal Lewis

Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; An official NFL “The Duke” football made by Wilson photographed on the field following the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

There was no Ravens offense during the 2000 season if it was not for Lewis, who was a rookie during the Ravens Super Bowl run. The passing game was basically non-existent that year, but Lewis, the fifth pick in the 2000 draft, rushed for 1,300 yards that season as he drove Priest Holmes out of Baltimore. He had 103 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV, becoming only the second rookie ever to rush for over 100 yards in a Super Bowl.

The all-time leader in rushing yards with 7,801 yards had a monstrous 2003 season in which he rushed for 2,066 yards. He was just 39 yards short of the all time single season rushing record set by Eric Dickerson, who rushed for 2,105 yards in 1984. Lewis also broke Corey Dillon‘s single-game rushing record of 278 yards by running for 295 yards against the Browns during that 2003 season. Both of those marks have now been bested by the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson.

His career was never really the same following his 2,000-yard season as he totaled less than 1,200 yards the next three seasons before he was released by the Ravens and signed with the Browns. He played three seasons with Cleveland and announced during the 2009 season that he would retire once the season ended.

Lewis has had his share of off the field problems since leaving the game, but there is no denying that he was the top running back in the NFL during his first four seasons. The Ravens added him to their Ring of Honor in 2012.

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