Ray Lewis (born May 15, 1975, in Bartow, Florida) is a former American football **middle linebacker** widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in National Football League (NFL) history.[1][2] He played his entire **17-season** professional career with the **Baltimore Ravens**, who drafted him in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft.[1][4] From his rookie season, Lewis emerged as the leader of the Ravens’ defense, leading the team in tackles in 14 of his 17 seasons.[2][4] He anchored a dominant unit that set a 16‑game record for fewest points and rushing yards allowed in 2000, culminating in a victory in **Super Bowl XXXV**, where he was named **Super Bowl MVP**.[1][2] Lewis later helped Baltimore win **Super Bowl XLVII**, which was also his final NFL game.[1][3] Over his career, Lewis became a **13‑time Pro Bowler** and **10‑time All‑Pro**, and he won the **Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year** award twice (2000, 2003).[1][2][5] He is the only player in NFL history with at least **40 sacks and 30 interceptions** (41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions), underscoring his impact as both a run stopper and pass defender.[2] He accumulated well over 2,000 career tackles and set multiple franchise records with the Ravens, including most seasons and games played.[1][2] Lewis’s early career was overshadowed by his involvement in a 2000 double-homicide case; murder charges against him were dropped after a plea deal to obstruction of justice, and he later worked on rebuilding his public image and engaging in community service.[1][4] After retiring following the 2012 season, he served as an NFL analyst for ESPN and other outlets and published a memoir.[4] In 2018, he was **inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame** in his first year of eligibility, cementing his status as one of the era’s defining defensive players.[2][4]