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Ray Lewis to retire after season
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of this season, closing one of the greatest careers in NFL history.
Lewis says "it is time for me to create a new legacy" after 17 NFL seasons.
He intends to play for first time since tearing his triceps two months ago when the Ravens play host to the Colts in Sunday's wild-card game, saying "there is no reason for me to not play, according to the Baltimore Sun"
Sunday will likely be Lewis' final game in Baltimore.
"I talked to my team today," Lewis said Wednesday. "I talked to them about life in general. And everything that starts has an end. For me, today, I told my team that this will be my last ride."
He returned to practice on Dec. 5, and in order for him to be eligible for the playoffs, the Ravens added him to the active roster later in the month.
Lewis has gone to 13 Pro Bowls, been named first-team All-Pro seven times and has been voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice.
"I never played the game for individual stats. I only played the game to make my team a better team," he said.
He led the Ravens to the 2000 Super Bowl when he was the key figure on a defense that set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season.
Lewis had hinted at retirement previously. He said last summer that he couldn't see himself playing past the age of 37. Lewis turned 37 in May.
Lewis wants to spend more time with his two sons. While working to return from his injury, Lewis watched them play on the same high school football team, and he intends to watch Ray Lewis III perform as a freshman next year for his alma mater, the University of Miami.
"God is calling," the 37-year-old Lewis said. "My children have made the ultimate sacrifice for their father for 17 years. I don't want to see them do that no more. I've done what I wanted to do in this business, and now it's my turn to give them something back."
Which means he'll pull off his No. 52 uniform for the last time after the Ravens are eliminated or win the Super Bowl.
"It's either hold onto the game and keep playing and let my kids miss out on times we can be spending together," Lewis said. "Because I always promised my son if he got a full ride on scholarship Daddy is going to be there. I can't miss that."
Source: AP