Tim Lewis
Encyclopedia
Tim Lewis is an American football
coach and former cornerback
. He is currently the secondary coach
for the Atlanta Falcons
of the National Football League
.
by the Green Bay Packers
in the 1983 NFL Draft
. A standout cornerback, he was considered to be one of the more skilled players on what was a relatively weak Packers team. He led or shared the team lead in interceptions in 1983 & 1985, finishing with a career total of 16. His 99-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams
on November 18, 1984, remains the Packer team record. His career was cut short by a severe neck injury suffered in a Monday Night
game against the Chicago Bears
in the third week of the 1986 season
.
. He would later spend time at defensive coordinator
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
and the New York Giants
.
Despite his aggressive defensive schemes during his time in Pittsburgh, Lewis reverted to soft defense in his last two years in Pittsburgh and while in New York. In the case of the Steelers, it was cited as the primary reason that after the 2003 season
that head coach Bill Cowher
dismissed Lewis, the only defensive coordinator in Cowher's 15-year tenure in Pittsburgh to be fired. He would subsequently be replaced by current defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau
, who served the team in the same capacity from 1995-1996. Years later, Steelers linebacker
James Harrison (who was cut by the team three times during Lewis's tenure) would mention how he hated how he was treated by Lewis, and that one of the reasons he agreed to come back for a fourth time in 2004 was because Lewis was gone.
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...
coach and former cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
. He is currently the secondary coach
Defensive backs coach
A defensive backs coach or secondary coach is a coach in charge of the safeties and cornerbacks in gridiron football. This position is very common in the CFL, NFL and college football programs. Some common titles are: safeties coach, cornerbacks coach, secondary coach, secondary/safeties coach,...
for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of 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...
.
Playing career
Lewis was a first round pick (11th player chosen overall) out of the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
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...
. A standout cornerback, he was considered to be one of the more skilled players on what was a relatively weak Packers team. He led or shared the team lead in interceptions in 1983 & 1985, finishing with a career total of 16. His 99-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
on November 18, 1984, remains the Packer team record. His career was cut short by a severe neck injury suffered in a Monday Night
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third week of the 1986 season
1986 NFL season
The 1986 NFL season was the 67th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXI when the New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos to win their first league title in 30 years.-Major rule changes:...
.
Coaching career
Beginning his coaching career in 1987 at Texas A&M, Lewis served under his former college coach at Pitt, Jackie SherrillJackie Sherrill
Jackie Sherrill is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Washington State University , the University of Pittsburgh , Texas A&M University , and Mississippi State University , compiling a career college football record of 180–120–4...
. He would later spend time at defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Despite his aggressive defensive schemes during his time in Pittsburgh, Lewis reverted to soft defense in his last two years in Pittsburgh and while in New York. In the case of the Steelers, it was cited as the primary reason that after the 2003 season
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
that head coach Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
dismissed Lewis, the only defensive coordinator in Cowher's 15-year tenure in Pittsburgh to be fired. He would subsequently be replaced by current defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau
Dick LeBeau
Charles Richard “Dick” LeBeau is a National Football League Hall of Fame defensive back. He is currently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator and is considered to be one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time. He spent 14 years in the NFL as a player with the Detroit Lions and...
, who served the team in the same capacity from 1995-1996. Years later, Steelers linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
James Harrison (who was cut by the team three times during Lewis's tenure) would mention how he hated how he was treated by Lewis, and that one of the reasons he agreed to come back for a fourth time in 2004 was because Lewis was gone.