Albert Lewis (American football)
Encyclopedia
Albert Ray Lewis is a former American football
player who played in the National Football League
for the Kansas City Chiefs
and the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
. Considered one of the best cornerbacks in league history, Jerry Rice
once said that Lewis was the "toughest" cornerback he faced.
Lewis was a 3rd round draft pick(61st overall) by the Chiefs in the 1983 NFL Draft
. He enjoyed a stellar career that spanned 16 seasons in which he recorded 42 interceptions, 12.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 13 fumbles recoveries and 2 touchdowns. In addition to his standout play on defense, Lewis blocked a stunning 11 kicks in 11 seasons with the Chiefs.
Lewis was named as the Chiefs MVP for the 1986 season after he recorded 69 tackles (61 solo), four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one blocked punt. During his time in Kansas City, the Chiefs made the playoffs five times. This included an appearance in the 1993 AFC Championship game. Lewis finished with 38 interceptions in eleven seasons with the Chiefs, the fifth-highest total in franchise history. 20 of those came in his first four seasons before opposing teams decided not to throw to his side of the field as much. He played in 150 games for the Chiefs and was a starter in 128 of them. Lewis spent the final five seasons of his career with the Raiders. While with the team, he became the oldest player to score a defensive touchdown (38 years, 26 days)on November 1, 1998 when he returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.Lewis retired from the NFL after the 1998 season.
Lewis was known for his excellent acceleration and speed-at one point running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. At 6' 2", he was usually the tallest or one of the tallest cornerbacks in the NFL. He also had 35-inch long arms and a 38-inch vertical leap. Lewis credited his strong determination and work-ethic to his father, Brad.
Lewis was named to the Chiefs 25-Year All-Time Team in 1987 and was inducted into the Chiefs
Hall of Fame on March 4, 2007.
In July 2008, Lewis, along with former Chiefs teammate Kevin Ross, was named to the NFL Network
's "Top 10 Cornerback Tandems" list.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Considered one of the best cornerbacks in league history, Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
once said that Lewis was the "toughest" cornerback he faced.
Lewis was a 3rd round draft pick(61st overall) by the Chiefs in the 1983 NFL Draft
1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
. He enjoyed a stellar career that spanned 16 seasons in which he recorded 42 interceptions, 12.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 13 fumbles recoveries and 2 touchdowns. In addition to his standout play on defense, Lewis blocked a stunning 11 kicks in 11 seasons with the Chiefs.
Lewis was named as the Chiefs MVP for the 1986 season after he recorded 69 tackles (61 solo), four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one blocked punt. During his time in Kansas City, the Chiefs made the playoffs five times. This included an appearance in the 1993 AFC Championship game. Lewis finished with 38 interceptions in eleven seasons with the Chiefs, the fifth-highest total in franchise history. 20 of those came in his first four seasons before opposing teams decided not to throw to his side of the field as much. He played in 150 games for the Chiefs and was a starter in 128 of them. Lewis spent the final five seasons of his career with the Raiders. While with the team, he became the oldest player to score a defensive touchdown (38 years, 26 days)on November 1, 1998 when he returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.Lewis retired from the NFL after the 1998 season.
Lewis was known for his excellent acceleration and speed-at one point running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. At 6' 2", he was usually the tallest or one of the tallest cornerbacks in the NFL. He also had 35-inch long arms and a 38-inch vertical leap. Lewis credited his strong determination and work-ethic to his father, Brad.
Lewis was named to the Chiefs 25-Year All-Time Team in 1987 and was inducted into the Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
Hall of Fame on March 4, 2007.
In July 2008, Lewis, along with former Chiefs teammate Kevin Ross, was named to the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
's "Top 10 Cornerback Tandems" list.