When Did Ray Lewis Retire?

John Rizzo

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Ray Lewis is an American football middle linebacker who played his entire professional career with the Baltimore Ravens. He was born on May 15, 1975 in Bartow, Florida, and attended Miami (FL) where he was a two-time First-team All-American.

Drafted by the Ravens in 1996, Ray had an illustrious NFL career that included 13 Pro Bowls, 7 first-team All-Pro selections, and 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards. His records include most combined tackles at 2,059 as well as most solo tackles at 1,568 over a single season.

In addition to these feats, Ray won two Super Bowl championships and MVP honors for one of them during his time with the Ravens from 1996–2012 before retiring after 17 seasons in 2013.

Inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and NFL 100th Anniversary Team he will always be remembered as one of football’s greatest linebackers ever.

Ray Lewis
Source: riverfrontball.com

Personal Information of Ray Lewis

Real Name/Full NameRaymond Anthony Lewis Jr
Age47
Birth PlaceBartow, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Height6 feet 0 inches
Weight90 kg
Marital StatusUnmarried
ProfessionProfessional football player
Net Worth$30 million

Stats

Defensive
seasonTeam
1996
BAL
1997
BAL
1998
BAL
1999
BAL
2000
BAL
2001
BAL
2002
BAL
2003
BAL
2004
BAL
2005
BAL
2006
BAL
2007
BAL
2008
BAL
2009
BAL
2010
BAL
2011
BAL
2012
BAL
Career
GPTOTSOLOASTSACKFFFRYDSINTYDSAVGTDLNGPDSTFSTFYDSKB
1411094162.5000100.0006000
1618315528410011818.001811000
141189919310022512.50267000
16167131363.500039732.30608000
16136107293030210.5016000
16161112493.5110311538.306412900
55742150110242.0043300
16161120411.522069916.513713500
15146100461120000.0005600
6463881010100.0002000
141038023511022713.50278330
141208238221023517.513510330
1611785323.522034314.302995110
1613495393211090.00977210
1613910237223122613.01244480
129572232200144.0047230
65744131110000.0001110
2282050155849241.5191923150316.236411948500
Scoring
seasonTeam
1999
BAL
2003
BAL
2007
BAL
2010
BAL
Career
GPPASSRUSHRECRETTD2PTPATFGPTS
16000000002
16000110006
14000110006
16000110006
2280003300020

Early life

Raymond Anthony Jenkins was born in Bartow, Florida in Central Florida, and is the oldest of five siblings.

His mother had him when she was only sixteen years old, while his father has been largely absent for most of Lewis’ life with all that is known about him being a record-setting high school wrestler before he went to jail due to drug offenses.

The responsibility of providing for his family then fell on young Raymond’s shoulders as he grew up into an older brother figure for four younger siblings and became essentially the man of the house.

He helped them do their hair and made sure they got off to daycare on time every morning.

When a contact from his absentee father started becoming less frequent Lewis decided it would be best if he changed his last name from Jenkins to Ray – which comes from his mother’s boyfriend at the time when attending Kathleen High School located in Lakeland, FL where Lewis ended up becoming quite.

The prominent athlete despite being undersized compared to other students who played football or wrestled during games or competitions respectively; this didn’t stop our hero though since sheer intensity and instincts were enough fuel behind some great successes throughout those times such as earning himself All-American linebacker status thanks mainly due playing football well but also having considerable success wrestling too.

As we continue looking back on Ray Lews’ early life we can’t help but mention one more important detail: what drove him so hard towards both sports activities (and eventually excelling at them) wasn’t just ambition or even plain love for competed.

it seems like what kept pushing Raymond forward through thick & thin were memories related directly with witnessing how abusive stepfather behaved around mom combined with strong desire protect her no matter cost which explains why #52 jersey choice makes perfect sense now given its significance once again tied back home situation experienced by champion growing up there surrounded by people who cared deeply yet faced many struggles along the way.

College career

Ray Lewis had a great college career at the University of Miami. As soon as he arrived on campus, he was an immediate contributor and became a starter for the Hurricanes’ final five games in his freshman year.

During that time, he compiled 81 tackles, two sacks and four pass deflections which earned him Freshman All-American honors. In his sophomore season with the Hurricanes, Ray Lewis led them to an 8-3 record while also achieving 154 total tackles with ten tackles for loss and three interceptions.

His success continued into his junior year when it ended up being one of Miami’s best defensive seasons ever by only allowing 12 points per game thanks to Ray’s stellar playmaking skills leading all players in solo tackles (110) and assisted stops (106).

This helped him earn first-team All-American status along with Big East Defensive Player Of The Year honors making him the highest-drafted linebacker from UM since 1980s Ted Hendricks who went second overall to Oakland Raiders back then.

As a senior captain during 1996 season, Lewis recorded 145 total tackles -10th most nationally – including seven sacks en route to another First Team All-America selection as well as earning ‘96 Butkus Award winner honoring the nation’s top collegiate linebacker leaving behind a huge legacy upon graduating from the University of Miami where is still widely remembered today after almost 20 years since playing there last time.

Professional career

Ray Lewis was the top-rated inside linebacker heading into the 1996 NFL Draft and taken as the fifth linebacker in that draft. He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his seven-tackle performance, along with an interception during his first career game against Oakland Raiders.

His 15 tackles for loss led all players in NFL, while 110 tackles leaded Ravens in 1996 season which resulted in him to be part of USA Today’s All-Rookie team honors.

Also he finished rookie season with two and a half sacks, six pass deflections and one interception on the season resulting 4–12 record from Ravens that year.

Throughout his professional football career, Ray Lewis featured 17 seasons at Baltimore ravens making it longest tenure by any player who ever played there since the franchise’s founding in 1996 till 2012 when he announced retirement after playing last match on January 6th 2013 against Indianapolis Colts ending up winning 24–9.

Later in 2018 Ray Lewis got elected to Pro Football Hall Of Fame being only second Raven inductee following Jonathan Ogden becoming 23rd Linebacker overall selected among 310 members honored so far including himself at Hall Of Fame gallery located in Canton Ohio United States.

He made 13 appearances at Pro Bowl until 2008 marking his most successful appearance run amongst any active or retired footballer across the entire league history till date without exception.

In addition to this stellar feat, he has also been voted twice as Associated Press Defense Player Of The Year (2000 &2003). Besides these accolades, Lewis is proud holder of 3 Bart Starr Man Of The Year Awards(2001,2004&2008).

NFL career statistics

Ray Lewis is a former American football linebacker who played for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL) throughout his professional career.

He was drafted by the Ravens in 1996 and spent 17 seasons with them before retiring after Super Bowl XLVII.

Throughout his NFL tenure, he recorded 1,562 tackles—the fifth most all-time at retirement—41 sacks, 31 interceptions which he returned for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

He also forced 20 fumbles during his playing career; 13 of those were recovered by himself and seven were recovered by teammates.

Lewis earned Pro Bowl honors on thirteen occasions throughout his seventeen-year-long career making him one of only two players to amass such accolades in their respective careers along with Tony Gonzalez who had fourteen selections altogether from 1999 to 2013 season years combined.

In 2000 alone, Ray Lewis managed an astonishing 174 total tackles setting a single-season record that still stands today despite being broken several times since then.

His efforts resulted in All –Pro Team Selections as well as Defensive Player Of The Year Award distinctions both achieved during 2001 Regular Season games He was twice awarded AP NFL Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (2000 & 2003), elected into numerous All-Decade Teams including 1990’s & 2000 ‘s team’s recognition.

During the 2002 regular season, Ray Lewis became one out of five defensive leaders alongside Derrick Brooks, Charles Woodson, Warren Sapp & John Lynch whose average age fell between 24-26 chosen to appear on cover art design portraying Madden Video Game series installment thus effectively becoming first ever defense player featured thereon In addition, Ray has been elected into Professional Football Hall Of Fame Class 2018 upon announcing retirement after 2013-14 campaign.

Murder trial

Ray Lewis, an American football player for the Baltimore Ravens was involved in a fight that resulted in two fatalities on January 31st 2000. Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar were both stabbed to death during this altercation.

Ray Lewis along with his companions Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting were questioned by the Atlanta police before being charged with murder and aggravated assault eleven days later. The incident occurred near The Cobalt Lounge where Lewis had been celebrating after Super Bowl XXXIV according to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.

It is believed that there may have been a white suit worn by Raymond at the time of the murders however it has never been found despite numerous searches conducted by authorities over several years.

Howard also alleged that blood-stained clothes from Ray’s limousine contained traces of Jacinth Baker’s blood, leading him to accuse them further for their involvement in these crimes.

A knife was also discovered at the scene but did not contain any fingerprints or DNA linking back to anyone present during this fatal event other than what appeared already known through witness statements made previously.

In court testimony, Ray stated that Oakley & Sweeting purchased knives earlier in week prior to their attendance at the Superbowl party although he claimed no knowledge as far as how they ended up being used against those who lost lives tragically due to what happened afterward near Buckhead Village area of Atlanta Georgia USA.

Although initially pleading innocent, eventually Raymond decided upon taking advantage of the plea bargain arrangement offered whereby all charges related to homicide would be dropped while accepting guilt instead regarding obstruction justice charge.

Only as result convicted felon status was avoided then proceeded to serve a one-year probationary period imposed sentence soon thereafter alongside doing community service work plus paying financial restitution made family members deceased victims relevant case concluded finally 2004.

When Did Ray Lewis Retire?

Ray Lewis, the legendary Baltimore Ravens linebacker, officially retired from the NFL following the 2012 season. Lewis had a storied career with the Ravens, being drafted by the team in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft and playing for 17 seasons.

He was a key figure in the team’s success, earning multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, and winning two Super Bowls. Despite facing some controversy off the field, Lewis was widely considered one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history and was a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

In 2012, Lewis announced that the 2012-2013 season would be his last, and he went out on top, leading the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in his final game. The team’s success that season, coupled with Lewis’ leadership and on-field dominance, made his retirement all the more memorable.

The Ravens retired his number, 52, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Lewis’ impact on the game of football and the Baltimore Ravens organization will never be forgotten, and his legacy will live on for years to come.

Who is the greatest linebacker of all time?

The Greatest Linebacker of All Time
Linebackers are a key part of any football team, and throughout the years there have been many great players that have made an impact on the game. The debate over who is the greatest linebacker of all time has raged for decades now, with several names being thrown around as potential candidates.

One name that often comes up in this discussion is Lawrence Taylor, who played for the New York Giants from 1981-1993. He was one of the most dominant defensive forces ever seen in professional football and earned numerous awards during his career including NFL Defensive Player Of The Year three times.

Taylor revolutionized how linebackers were used by teams across the league and set a new standard for what could be achieved at his position. His combination of strength, speed and athleticism gave him an edge against opponents which helped him become one of only two players to win both MVP honors and Super Bowl rings multiple times each during their careers.

Another player whose name always gets mentioned when talking about great linebackers is Dick Butkus, who spent nine seasons playing with Chicago Bears between 1965-1973.

During this period he was widely considered to be among the best defenders in NFL history due to his physicality while tackling opposing ball carriers or pressuring quarterbacks into making mistakes resulting in turnovers; something no other player before or since can claim they did better than Butkus consistently over such a long stretch time frame.

Both men are undoubtedly deserving contenders when discussing ‘the greatest linebacker’ title but ultimately it will come down to personal preference as far as whom you think deserves accolade more overall based on individual merits rather than just statistics alone.

Does Ray Lewis believe in God?

Ray Lewis, one of the greatest linebackers to ever play professional football, is an outspoken believer in God. The former Baltimore Ravens star has been vocal about his faith throughout his career, often citing it as a significant source of strength during difficult times.

He even wrote a book entitled “I Feel Like Going On Life, Game and Glory” which includes stories from his life that demonstrate how he relied on God for guidance.
In addition to discussing religion publicly, Ray also attends church services regularly with family members and friends.

In fact, after each game ended at M&T Bank Stadium (home of the Ravens) he would kneel down on one knee in prayer thanking god for giving him another opportunity to perform well on the field. This gesture quickly became known as “The Ray Lewis Dance”.

It’s clear that not only does he believe in God but also shows gratitude towards Him consistently through these acts of devotion both inside and outside the stadium walls.

To Recap

Ray Lewis is a retired middle linebacker who had an incredibly successful career in the NFL. He was born on May 15, 1975 and attended Kathleen High School before going to Miami (FL) from 1993-1995.

During his time with Baltimore Ravens, he won two Super Bowls (XXXV & XLVII), earned MVP honors for XXXV, and was named Defensive Player of the Year twice in 2000 and 2003. His thirteen Pro Bowl selections were tied for second-most all-time among linebackers when he retired after 2012 season.

Ray holds several impressive NFL records such as most career combined tackles at 2,059; most solo tackles at 1,568; the highest total of solo tackles in one season 156; third all-time sacks leader 41½ ; three defensive touchdowns scored throughout his career.

In 2018 Ray Lewis was elected into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame due to his incredible achievements during his sixteen-year tenure with Baltimore Ravens.

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John Rizzo

I am a professional rugby player in the Washington DC-Baltimore area. I have been playing rugby for over 10 years and have had the opportunity to play in many different countries. I am also a coach for both youth and adult rugby teams. I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Sports Management and Marketing. I am currently working on my MPA from American University and plan to pursue this career path after graduating next year. LinkedIn

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