Ray Lewis is one of the most revered defensive players in NFL history behind his legendary career. The former Baltimore Ravens great established himself among the all-time great linebackers that the league has ever seen while experiencing tremendous success. There was some off-the-field controversy that still lingers over his legacy, but he has garnered tremendous respect for what he did on the football field. Meanwhile, he has also had a busy personal life that has seen him garner quite an extended immediate family.

Ray Lewis’ NFL career

Ray Lewis put forth a legendary NFL career that saw him spend all 17 years in the league with the Ravens.

During that span, he earned the reputation as one of the game’s greatest linebackers that helped him become a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. Lewis has numerous accolades to his name with a pair of Super Bowl wins, a Super Bowl XXXV MVP award, 13 Pro Bowl selections, seven First-Team All-Pro nods, three Second-Team All-Pro nominations, and two NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Lewis has also earned induction to the Ravens’ Ring of Honor along with being named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was only the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl MVP award and the first to win it on the winning Super Bowl team. Lewis was also the sixth player to win the Defensive Player of the Year award multiples times. He is regarded as being the greatest player in Ravens’ history behind his incredible career.

Lewis helped set the standard at the middle linebacker position during his time in the league and has become the gold standard for the next generation of players to aspire to be at the spot.

Ray Lewis has fathered six kids

Ray Lewis spent nearly two decades in the NFL, where he cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in league history. That saw him cap it off in the best manner by leaving on the high note of capturing his second Super Bowl win.

Lewis has also had a busy life off the field with his family as he has fathered six from four different women with two daughters and four sons. A couple of his sons followed in his football footsteps as Ray Lewis III as he played collegiate football at the University of Miami then transferred to Coastal Carolina. However, he was dismissed from the Coastal Carolina team after he was indicted on a charge of third-degree criminal sexual assault, which the charges were later dropped.

Rayshad Lewis started out at Utah State but transferred to the University of Maryland after his freshman year. He has finished his junior year where he had three catches for 13 receiving yards in the 2019 campaign. Ray currently holds a net worth of $45 million.

Ray Lewis’ legacy in retirement

Ray Lewis has cemented his legacy in NFL lore while he still garners great respect from his peers as he helped shape the game to what it has become today.

Lewis still holds a strong connection to the Ravens since his retirement following the 2012 season. In retirement, he has dabbled into the sports media side as he joined ESPN for three years as a contributor to help the company’s NFL coverage. He signed with Fox Sports 1 in 2017, where he holds a similar role while appearing on different shows.

It hasn’t been the cleanest path for Lewis as he will always have that murder trial hanging over his NFL success, but he has made the most out of the opportunities he received with football.