Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it was announced Saturday night in Minneapolis, Minn. Lewis, who played his entire 17-year career in Baltimore, becomes the second homegrown Raven (T Jonathan Ogden, 2013) to earn Hall of Fame honors.
A 13-time Pro Bowler, seven-time first-team All-Pro and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000 & 2003), Lewis is the Ravens’ second-ever draft choice (26th overall in 1996, following Ogden, who was tabbed No. 4). During his incredible career, Lewis helped guide Baltimore to two Super Bowl titles (2000 & 2012), earning MVP honors in the 2000 season’s game.
Prior to being named to the NFL All-Decade Team (2000s), Lewis led a defense during the Ravens’ title-winning 2000 campaign that established a 16-game single-season record for fewest points (165) and fewest rushing yards allowed (970), recorded four shutouts (one shy of the post-1970 merger record), and finished first league-wide in six key defensive categories.
The only player in NFL history to produce at least 40 career sacks and 30 career interceptions (41.5 sacks & 31 INTs), Lewis also tallied a Ravens’ franchise-record 2,643 career tackles, including a single-season best 225 stops in 2003.
