Mo Lewis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mo Lewis | |
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Position(s): Linebacker |
Jersey #(s): 57 |
Born: October 21, 1969 Atlanta, Georgia |
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Career Information | |
Year(s): 1991–2003 | |
NFL Draft: 1991 / Round: 3 / Pick: 63 | |
College: Georgia | |
Professional Teams | |
Career Stats | |
Tackles | 1,236 |
Sacks | 52.5 |
Interceptions | 14 |
Stats at NFL.com | |
Career Highlights and Awards | |
Morris "Mo" C. Lewis (born October 21, 1969 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American football player who played linebacker for the New York Jets from 1991 until 2003. He was a star at the University of Georgia. His number was 57. Lewis, along with former Jets teammate Marvin Jones, signed a one-day contract with the Jets on June 27, 2005, to both retire as members of the New York Jets. Lewis played 200 games as a Jet, the third longest tenure in franchise history. He was also a three time Pro Bowler (1998,1999, 2000), the Jets defensive captain from 1997 to 2003 and was even named to the NFL All-Pro team after the 1998 season.
In 2002, after the signing of long time Buffalo Bills linebacker Sam Cowart in the off-season as a free agent, many Jets fans were excited, because the signing of Cowart meant that the Jets would have a linebacker corp of All-Pro Mo Lewis, Marvin Jones, and Cowart. However, this did not turn out to be the story, as the linebacker corp that looked astounding on paper crumbled within a season. After a season together, Jones and Lewis were cut after the 2003 season and would go onto retire after the 2004 season. Cowart is now a Houston Texan after the trade by the Minnesota Vikings sent him there.
Mo Lewis also delivered the crushing hit on New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe in week 2 of the 2001 season caused Bledsoe moderate internal bleeding and opened the door for backup QB (and eventual 2-time Super Bowl MVP) Tom Brady, who has led the New England Patriots to four Super Bowl appearances.
Lewis retired after the 2003 season with 1231 tackles (883 solo), 52.5 sacks, 14 interceptions for 241 yards, 79 pass deflections, 29 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries for 74 yards, and 5 defensive touchdowns in 200 career games. He made the Pro Bowl three times during his career, in 1998,1999 and 2000.