Mo Lewis

Last updated

Mo Lewis
No. 57
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1969-10-21) October 21, 1969 (age 55)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:258 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High school: Murphy (Atlanta)
College: Georgia
NFL draft: 1991: 3rd round, 63rd pick
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:1,232
Sacks:52.5
Interceptions:14
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Morris Clyde Lewis III (born October 21, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 13 seasons with the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was drafted by the Jets in the third round of the 1991 NFL draft. [1] Lewis was named to three Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro during his career, in addition to being a member of the Jets All-Time Four Decade Team. However, Lewis accomplishments has been overshadowed by him injuring New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe in 2001, which inadvertently began a dynasty for the Patriots when they relieved Bledsoe with Tom Brady.

Contents

Career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span Bench press
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)
240 lb
(109 kg)
32+12 in
(0.83 m)
9+78 in
(0.25 m)
20 reps
All values from NFL Combine [2]

Lewis was a star at the University of Georgia, wearing the number 57 as he would in his pro career. Lewis played 200 games as a Jet, the third-longest tenure in franchise history, and was one of the most loved team players and captains of his time. He was a three-time Pro Bowler (1998, 1999, 2000), [3] was the Jets' defensive captain from 1997 to 2003 and was named to the NFL All-Pro team after the 1998 season. Lewis retired after the 2003 season with 1,231 tackles (883 solo), 52.5 sacks, 14 interceptions for 241 yards, 79 pass deflections, 29 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries for 74 yards and five defensive touchdowns in 200 career games.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsTDLngFFFRYdsTD
1991 NYJ 1615767601.000003100
1992 NYJ 161614514502.0110134220
1993 NYJ 161615815804.024044000
1994 NYJ 1616130103276.0410626731110
1995 NYJ 161611182295.02221152000
1996 NYJ 994332110.500000000
1997 NYJ 16167245278.014314321260
1998 NYJ 16168167147.01110111100
1999 NYJ 16168959305.500003100
2000 NYJ 161689652410.01230232100
2001 NYJ 161610877313.011701722151
2002 NYJ 16168268140.51140140000
2003 NYJ 15154834140.000001000
Career2001991,2321,01122152.5142414672612741

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsTDLngFFFRYdsTD
1991 NYJ 110002.000000000
1998 NYJ 2213760.000000000
2001 NYJ 115410.000000000
2002 NYJ 22121111.000001000
Career66302283.000001000

Impact on NFL history

While Lewis had a productive career, he is best known for being the catalyst for starting the New England Patriots dynasty that would span two decades. During an early-season game against the Patriots in 2001, Lewis leveled Patriots' quarterback Drew Bledsoe with a hard, but clean hit. Bledsoe was about to dive for the first-down marker, but defensive end Shaun Ellis clipped Bledsoe's ankles, resulting in Bledsoe taking the full force of the hit while standing straight up. [4] Tom Brady, a sixth-round draft pick in the 2000 NFL draft, was the back-up quarterback and finished the game.

It turned out that Lewis' hit sheared a blood vessel in Bledsoe's chest, causing Bledsoe to lose a pint of blood an hour. Bledsoe would never regain his starting job (he was traded to Buffalo after the season). [5] The Patriots went 11–3 for the remainder of the season with Brady under center, culminating in the team's first Super Bowl title on February 3, 2002.

Over the next two decades, the Patriots won six Super Bowl titles and Brady would win a seventh in Tampa Bay. As a result, Lewis' hit on Bledsoe is often noted for its impact on NFL history. [6] [7] The hit appeared on the NFL's list of 100 greatest game changers, ranking at 82. [8]

Personal life

Lewis and his wife, Christalyn, live in Atlanta, Georgia and have two sons. [9]

References

  1. "1991 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  2. "Morris Lewis, Combine Results, OLB - Georgia". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  3. "Honoring Mo Lewis: New York Jets' Former Linebacker Was One for the Ages". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  4. "Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe reflect on pivotal hit 15 years later". NFL Network. September 22, 2016.
  5. Sean Wickersham (September 22, 2021). "The hit that changed Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe and the course of NFL history". ESPN.
  6. Rivera, Joe (March 17, 2020). "The hit that started Tom Brady era with Patriots: What if Mo Lewis never injured Drew Bledsoe?". Sporting News . Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  7. Moriello, John (May 11, 2020). "One Hit by Mo Lewis Led to Tom Brady's Big Break and Changed NFL History". Sportscasting. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  8. "'NFL 100 Greatest' Game Changers: Mo Lewis". NFL.com . Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  9. Casey, Tim (January 31, 2015). "With Eye on Harvard, Basketball Player Has 2 Careers on His Mind". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 6, 2023.