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Michael Lewis
File:Michael-L-Lewis-2008-preseason-vsBears.jpg
Lewis in a 2008 preseason game
Free Agent
Strong Safety
Personal information
Date of birth: (1980-04-29) April 29, 1980 (age 43)
Place of birth: Richmond, Texas
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 226 lb (103 kg)
Career information
College: Colorado
NFL Draft: 2002 / Round: 2 / Pick: 58
Debuted in 2002 for the Philadelphia Eagles
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2010
Tackles     681
Sacks     11.5
Interceptions     12
Stats at NFL.com

Michael Milton Lewis (born April 29, 1980) is an American football strong safety who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado.

Lewis has also played for the San Francisco 49ers. He was a Pro Bowl selection with the Eagles in 2004.

College career[]

Lewis twice won Colorado's Dave Jones Award for the most outstanding defensive player and the Hale Irwin Award for the most outstanding defensive back in his junior and senior seasons. As a junior, he made a career-high 117 tackles on his way to first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors. As a senior, he was a unanimous All-Big 12 Conference first-team choice, earned third team All-America honors, and was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back. He led the team with 112 tackles and five interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He closed his career ranked 9th on the school's all-time list with 336 tackles, second in forced fumbles with 10 and tied for 12th with nine interceptions. He also holds the school record with 6.5 career sacks for a defensive back.

Pre-draft[]

Pre-draft measureables
Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP Wonderlic
6 ft 1⅛ in 211 lb 4.60 s 1.65 s 2.67 s 4.14 s 6.96 s 36½ in 10 ft 2 in 16 rep

Professional career[]

Philadelphia Eagles[]

Lewis was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. As a rookie he started 4 out of 14 games and recorded 49 tackles, a sack, and an interception. In 2003, he became a full-time starter, replacing Blaine Bishop, and remained the starter alongside free safety Brian Dawkins up to the 2006 season. In 2005, he along with Dawkins were selected as the starters for the 2004 Pro Bowl for the NFC squad. But Lewis had a tough year in 2006. After giving up numerous big plays, he was benched for Sean Considine, starting only 6 of 14 games. He finished his career with the Eagles recording 386 tackles, six sacks, and nine interceptions.

San Francisco 49ers[]

On March 2, 2007 Lewis signed with the San Francisco 49ers. Lewis re-gained his starting role with the 49ers and had a good season, finishing his first season with the team starting all 16 games recording 104 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions.

On October 1, 2010, it was reported that Lewis would not be traveling with the 49ers to their next game at Atlanta[2] after sitting out that day's practice for "personal reasons".[3] It was further reported[4][5] that Lewis has asked the team for his release. For the season until that point, Lewis had started each regular season game and had 10 tackles with no interceptions, forced fumbles, or sacks.[6]

On October 4, 2010, Lewis was released by the 49ers and became a free agent.[7]

St. Louis Rams[]

Lewis was signed by the St. Louis Rams on October 27, 2010.

Personal[]

During the week of Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida Lewis won the annual EA Sports Madden Bowl competition. The tournament featured eight NFL players and Lewis claimed the top spot by defeating Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, Colts DE Dwight Freeney (the two-time defending champion), and Broncos RB Willis McGahee.

During his sophomore year at Colorado University, Lewis was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.[8] While not life threatening, it has contributed to Michael Lewis becoming an active spokesperson for Heart Disease awareness. He has served as a spokesperson for the Philadelphia chapter of the American Heart Association, served as the Honorary Chairperson for Philadelphia Heart Walk, and joined Steve Young in San Jose to promote the American Heart Association's Start! campaign.[9][10]

Lewis' nephews are Atlanta Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver James Rodgers.[11]

References[]

  1. [1][dead link]
  2. "Lewis Not Expected to Travel to Atlanta". Csnbayarea.com. 2010-10-01. http://www.csnbayarea.com/10/01/10/Lewis-Not-Expected-to-Travel-to-Atlanta/landing.html?full_args=10/01/10/Lewis-Not-Expected-to-Travel-to-Atlanta/landing&blockID=322727&feedID=5936. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  3. "49ers starting safety Michael Lewis leaves team - San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_16228053. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  4. October 1, 2010 (2010-10-01). "49ers' Lewis reportedly asks for release". Midwestsportsfans.com. http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2010/10/49ers-lewis-reportedly-asks-for-release/. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  5. "Niners safety Lewis misses practice for personal reasons". NFL.com. 2010-10-01. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81afca84/article/niners-safety-lewis-misses-practice-for-personal-reasons. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  6. Michael Lewis   (2012-09-17). "Michael Lewis, SS at". Nfl.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=LEW521915. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  7. Lynch, Kevin (October 5, 2010). "49ers release safety Lewis". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/04/SP5R1FO5ED.DTL.
  8. "Oh, Four Oh Four". Media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com. http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2005/09/21/News/Eagles.Star.Speaks.From.Heart-2147426.shtml. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  9. "The Official Site of the San Francisco 49ers". 49ers.com. 2012-09-16. http://www.49ers.com/team/roster_detail_printable.php?PRKey=119. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  10. [2][dead link]
  11. "#1 Jacquizz Rodgers". osubeavers.com. http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rodgers_jacquizz00.html. Retrieved 2010-10-04.

External links[]

Preceded by
Blaine Bishop
Philadelphia Eagles Starting Strong Safeties
2003—2006
Succeeded by
Sean Considine


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