The Next Hall of Fame Inductee For All 32 NFL Teams
By Erik Lambert
Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis
As if this is any surprise. It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion at this point that linebacker Ray Lewis will enter the Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility in 2018. That’s the extent of his impact on the game. He’s one of just a handful of players in NFL history to reach 13 Pro Bowls. He also collected two Defensive Player of the Year awards as well. Last but not least he retired in 2013 with two Super Bowl rings he won with the Ravens. Each of them 12 years apart.
That just speaks to his incredible longevity. Though the stat is questionable, Lewis is credited with making over 2,000 tackles in his storied career. He also intercepted 31 passes, sacked the quarterback 41.5 times, forced 19 fumbles and scored three defensive touchdowns. His leadership is something teammates raved about. One could argue he might’ve been the best defensive mind in the NFL for over a decade. Nobody was ever going to outsmart him on a football field.