For the past 17 seasons, the Baltimore Ravens have had arguably the most feared linebacker in the NFL, Ray Lewis. His passion for the game resembles old school players like Dick Butkus and Jack Lambert. Today the old school player announced he will retire at the end of this season.
Lewis has been sidelined since Oct. 14 with a torn right triceps. The 13-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker intends to return Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts in what will almost certainly be his final home game.
Since Ray has been in the league, he has instilled a sense of fear in his opponents that is indescribable. Whenever you play the Ravens, you better know where number 52 is lining up on every play, because if he goes unaccounted for, he will be sure to make the stop. At 37 years old, 6-foot-1, and 250 pounds, Lewis looks like he could play for another 5 years he announced today that he is retiring after this season. Lewis has always been a leader on the team. Known for his trash talk, high intensity, and huge hits, Ray Lewis has established himself as one of the most dominant linebackers to ever play.
After being drafted in the first round of the 1996 draft, Ray Lewis immediately made an impact in Baltimore. In his first season with the Ravens, Lewis played in 14 games and recorded 110 tackles. However, his next season would show the world what he was really made of when he reached an astounding 183 tackles.
In 2000, Lewis led Baltimore to Super Bowl XXXV where he was named MVP. In that same year, the Ravens had the top ranked defense in the league and allowed only 970 rushing yards all season. The only seasons where Lewis recorded less than 100 tackles where seasons in which he suffered injuries that cost him playing time.
During the offseason, Lewis puts himself through strenuous workouts, targeting every muscle group he can, and improving his cardio.
After barely missing the Super Bowl last season, there were many questions as to whether or not Ray Lewis would return. Lewis was quick to answer that question. “Is this my last time as a Raven? Absolutely not. Let me answer that question before somebody asks me. Absolutely not. It’s just too much. Life offers too much. Every time you step on this field, it’s a true blessing.”
That was last season and Lewis is in a different place today. ”I talked to my team today,” Lewis said Wednesday. ”I talked to them about life in general. And everything that starts has an end. For me, today, I told my team that this will be my last ride.”
Lewis is leaving the game because to spend more time with his two sons. While working to return from his injury, Lewis watched them play on the same high school football team, and he intends to watch Ray Lewis III perform as a freshman next year for his alma mater, the University of Miami.
”God is calling,” the 37-year-old Lewis said. ”My children have made the ultimate sacrifice for their father for 17 years. I don’t want to see them do that no more. I’ve done what I wanted to do in this business, and now it’s my turn to give them something back.”
Lewis has helped to build the Ravens into a tight knit family that will stick together no matter what.
