The iconic middle linebacker terrorized opponents during his 17-year NFL career, and brought a passion to the game that grew to symbolize Ravens football. Even two years after his retirement, a sea of fans wearing Lewis' No. 52 fills M&T Bank Stadium each Sunday, honoring the legend that helped set a standard of excellence within the franchise.
Walking onto the field as a 21-year-old rookie, Lewis joined a team without an identity. Having just moved from Cleveland to Baltimore in 1996, Art Modell's Ravens were a new team ready to be molded. The 26th pick out of Miami couldn't have been a better fit for the job.