Mo Lewis
| No. 57 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | October 21, 1969 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Atlanta, Georgia | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Georgia | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1991 / Round: 3 / Pick: 63 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Morris "Mo" C. Lewis (born October 21, 1969) is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League for 13 seasons and spent the entirety of his career with the New York Jets. Although Lewis had a productive career, he is best known for injuring New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, which resulted in Tom Brady becoming the team's starter.
Career
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),[1] 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. Along with former teammate Marvin Jones, Lewis signed a one-day contract with the Jets on June 27, 2005.
Lewis' infamous 2001 sideline hit on New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe gave Bledsoe's backup Tom Brady, who would go on to become one of the game's all-time greatest quarterbacks, a chance to play.
Personal life
Lewis and his wife Christalyn live in Atlanta, Georgia and have two sons. Both of his sons play basketball while the oldest, Mo IV, plays at the United States Naval Academy and the younger one, Chris, is committed to play for Harvard. Lewis has thought about coaching but instead decided to work out young athletes near Atlanta.[2]
References
- ↑ "Honoring Mo Lewis: New York Jets' Former Linebacker Was One for the Ages". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
- ↑ Casey, Tim. "With Eye on Harvard, Basketball Player Has 2 Careers on His Mind Chris Lewis Heeds Parents’ Advice in College Decision." The New York Times 30 Jan. 2015: n. pag. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/sports/ncaabasketball/chris-lewis-heeds-parents-advice-in-college-decision.html>.