On this edition, we take a look back at the littlest man on the Ravens, but the man with the biggest heart:
Jermaine Lewis
Jermaine Lewis was born in Lanham, Maryland in 1974. Lewis was a star high school athlete at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. During his high school playing days, he was a two-time team MVP as a running back. Lewis was also starring as a sprinter on the track team, setting a national high school record in the 200 meters in 1991.
Jermaine Lewis then went to attend the University of Maryland. As a four-year starter for the Terps, he set several ACC records, including a record 193 receptions.
Jermaine Lewis was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 1996 NFL draft.
From 1996 to 2001, Lewis scored 23 touchdowns (a franchise record eclipsed by Jamal Lewis in 2003) and made the Pro Bowl in 1998 and 2001 for his role on the Ravens special teams play. He led the NFL in punt return average in 1997(15.6), punt return yards in 2001(519), and punt return touchdowns in 1998 and 2000.
Two memorable moments come to Ravens fans mind when they think of this legendary player for the Baltimore Ravens:
In 2000, Jermaine Lewis’ son, Geronimo, was stillborn and the Lewis family was devastated. In a game against the New York Jets, Jermaine Lewis, with a heavy heart still mourning the loss of Geronimo, had the game of his life returning 2 punts for a touchdown, each time pointing up to the sky to honor the son he never met and lost so tragically.
In Super Bowl XXXV, Jermaine Lewis returned a Giants kickoff 84 yards for the touchdown. This came right after Ron Dixon of the Giants scored the only Giants touchdown on a kickoff return as well. “Maybe the Giants do have some life” said the Giants announcer after the Dixon touchdown. In the words of Lee Corso “not so fast, my friends!” The Ravens went on to win Super Bowl XXXV 34-7.
Lewis finished his 9 NFL seasons with 148 rushing yards, 143 receptions for 2,129 yards, 295 punt returns for 3,282 yards, and 4,611 yards on kickoff returns. Overall, he gained 10,170 total offensive yards and scored 23 touchdowns (17 receiving, 6 punt returns). With the Ravens, he gained 8,001 all-purpose yards, which stood as a franchise record until surpassed by Jamal Lewis in 2006.
Jermaine Lewis lives in Maryland with his wife Imara and two son, J.J. and Ali. He and his wife currently run the Geranimo Lewis foundation
Jermaine, you had the biggest heart on the Ravens. Thank you for your courage and so many jaw-dropping memories!
