Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis was born in Florida, in 1975. The oldest of five children, Lewis became a football star at Kathleen High School and was recruited to play at the University of Miami. In 1996, Lewis was a first-round pick of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. He led the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2000 and was named Defensive Player of the Year that same season. Lewis retired after leading the Ravens to another Super Bowl victory in 2013 and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

In 1992, Lewis, armed with a full scholarship, enrolled at the University of Miami, at the time home to one of the country's best football programs. He quickly became a vital piece in a vaunted Hurricanes' defense, and went on to twice set the school single-season record for tackles. At the end of his junior year he was runner-up for the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker. Following the 1995 season, Lewis declared for the NFL draft. In the spring of 1996, the Baltimore Ravens made him a first-round pick.

Outspoken and ferocious, Lewis spent his entire 17-year career with the Ravens. He was a force out the gate, going on to lead the club in tackles during his rookie season. In 2000 and 2003 the league named Lewis its Defensive Player of the Year — making him just the sixth player to win the award multiple times. Lewis is only the second player in NFL history to win both the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP award in the same year (2000).

Lewis' best year arguably came in 2000, when he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl title and took home the game's MVP honors. Overall, it was an astonishing year for the Lewis-led Ravens defense. The team registered four shutouts during the season and established league records for fewest rushing yards and fewest points allowed during a 16-game season.

The spiritual leader of the team, Lewis continued to play at an astonishingly high level well into his 30s. But by the 2012 season, Lewis announced that he would retire at the end of the season. The news rallied the Ravens team and helped steer the franchise to big victories over the Broncos and the Patriots. Lewis played his final football game on February 3, 2013, in New Orleans, Louisiana; in Super Bowl XLVII, the Ravens went head-to-head against the San Francisco 49ers, and won, 34 to 31.

During his tenure with the Ravens, he accumulated 2,059 career combined tackles, including 1,568 solo tackles, both of which are NFL records. Due to his numerous accolades and prodigious football play, Lewis is widely considered to be the greatest middle linebacker in NFL history. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler, a 10-time All-Pro, and one of the few players in NFL history to play in a Pro Bowl in three decades (1990s, 2000s, and 2010s).  Ray is the only player in NFL history to have over 40 sacks and 30 interceptions in a career. Lewis has the most tackles in NFL history and the most solo tackles in NFL history.  Making history again during the 2012 season Ray had the most tackles in the four playoff games with 51 tackles. Lewis is considered to be the greatest Baltimore Raven of all time, as well as one of the greatest defensive players of all time.

Over the course of his career in the NFL, Ray has been able to build several successful businesses as well as being heavily involved in charitable activities throughout his professional career. In 2015 Ray became a New York times Best Selling Author for his Memoir “I feel Like Going On”. When he is not working on his businesses or mentoring the youth you Ray makes guest appearances across all major television networks. In, 2022 Ray competed on CBS hit show Beyond the Edge to raise money for charity. Outside of his business and football career Lewis is involved in charitable activities, motivational speaking, and mentoring. 

Today, Ray devotes his time to being a proud father, businessman, community builder, and humanitarian. He continues to build upon his passion for empowering others through his philanthropic work around the country but specifically in Baltimore. Lewis always makes a mark wherever he goes to fuel and push others to their fullest potential and better self.