Will Lewis (American football)

Last updated
Will Lewis
No. 41
Position:Defensive Back
Personal information
Born: (1958-01-16) January 16, 1958 (age 65)
Quakertown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career information
High school: Pennridge (PA)
College: Millersville
Undrafted: 1980
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
As an executive:
Career highlights and awards
  • Millersville Athletic Hall of Fame (1996)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Willie L. Lewis (born January 16, 1958) is an American football executive and former professional player. He was most recently the Director of Player Personnel for the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL and Assistant Director of Pro Personnel for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL. He was the general manager for the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). He previously served as an executive in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 years, including tenures with the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs. Most notably, he was the Seahawks vice president of football operations from 2010 to 2012.

Contents

Playing career

Lewis was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1980 out of Millersville State College — now Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He played in 26 NFL games, returning 45 kickoffs for a 21.4-yard average and 56 punts for an 8.0-yard average, including a 75-yard touchdown as a rookie versus the Denver Broncos. [1] Following his NFL career, Lewis played three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Denver Gold (1983) and Houston Gamblers (1984–85). After the USFL's collapse, Lewis continued his playing career in the Canadian Football League (CFL). There he was a member of the Ottawa Roughriders (1986, 1987–88), Montreal Alouettes (1986), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1989) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1989). [2]

Executive career

Lewis was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League on May 16, 2013. [3]

In 2018, Lewis became the general manager of the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football. [4] The following year, he was hired by the XFL's Houston Roughnecks as assistant director of pro personnel under fellow ex-AAF GM Randy Mueller. [5]

On December 28, 2023, Lewis was out with the Brahmas after resignation from Head Coach Hines Ward. [6]

Personal life

Lewis is the father of Ryan Lewis, an XFL cornerback with the Brahmas and a cousin of ESPN analyst Louis Riddick and Robb Riddick, who is a former running back for the Buffalo Bills. [7] Will has been married to his wife, Kimmberly, since 1993 and they have 3 grown children, Ryan, Drew and Troy. Will also has a daughter, Krysta.

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References

  1. "Will Lewis: Career Stats". NFL.com. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  2. "Will Lewis's career and yearly statistics". StatsCrew.com. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  3. "Will Lewis, Marvin Allen join Chiefs' scouting department". NFL.com. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  4. Florio, Mike (May 25, 2018). "Will Lewis will serve as G.M. of Memphis AAF team". Profootballtalk.com . Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  5. McClain, John (June 7, 2019). "Houston XFL team adds personnel to football operations". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. Perry, Mark (2023-12-28). "Exclusive: HC Hines Ward, GM Will Lewis Out With Brahmas, HC Phillips & OC Smith In, Full Details". xflnewshub.com. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  7. "There's Reason To Believe Patriots Really Like This Undrafted Cornerback". NESN.com. 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2018-09-25.