Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis Elected to NFL Hall of Fame
By Ben Palmer
Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis has been elected to the NFL Hall of Fame, along with Randy Moss, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens, and Brian Urlacher.
Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis has been elected to the NFL Hall of Fame, along with wide receivers Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, as well as safety Brian Dawkins and linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Lewis is the second member of the Baltimore Ravens to be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame, with offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden being the first (though safety Ed Reed is eligible soon, and he is likely to join them).
Lewis said that he’s been “going a long time” and can now “finally rest,” saying that he wants to “go fishing with a cigar and just sit back.”
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“Growing up as a child, I know what [a Hall of Fame middle linebacker] looked like — Mike Singletary, Dick Butkus,” he said. “Who dreams of being in that category, sitting with those guys?”
Lewis was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft as the 26th overall pick out of the University of Miami. He is the most-decorated of all the newly-elected Hall of Fame members.
Lewis played 17 seasons for the Baltimore Ravens, won two Super Bowls, went to 13 Pro Bowls, won Defensive Player of The Year twice, won Super Bowl MVP in 2000, and was a seven-time first-team All-Pro.
Lewis has been named an All-Pro a total of 10 times, with three second-team All-Pro selections, which ties Lawrence Taylor for the most All-Pro selections in NFL history for an inner linebacker.
Lewis played a total of 227 games in his career, all with the Baltimore Ravens, and had eight 100-tackle seasons. One of his best seasons was 2003, when he finished the year with 161 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions, and one defensive touchdown.
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“For 17 years, we could point to No. 52 and tell the other players: ‘Follow his lead. Practice like Ray practices. Prepare like Ray prepares. Be a great teammate like him,” said Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. “It was our privilege to have him as a Raven. We are all better for having him here. His play on gamedays speaks for itself.”