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Tennessee football’s 10 RBs with greatest NFL careers

By Caleb Calhoun

BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 28: Running back Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens on the sideline during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 28, 2003 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 13-10 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 28: Running back Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens on the sideline during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 28, 2003 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 13-10 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images /

Scouting Report. Years in NFL: 10. Jamal Lewis. player. Pick Analysis. 1997-1999. 1. 839

Teams played for:

  • Baltimore Ravens, 2000-2006
  • Cleveland Browns, 2007-2009

Jamal Lewis arrived on campus in 1997 and joined with Peyton Manning to make arguably the greatest college backfield in history. The two won the SEC title, and if Lewis had started from the beginning, Tennessee football would’ve beaten the Florida Gators.

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In 1998, Lewis led the Vols to a 4-0 start en route to their national title campaign before a season-ending injury. He returned in 1999, but he wasn’t himself, as he was still getting back to form. Still, he had 2,677 rushing yards, 3,152 yards from scrimmage, 21 total touchdowns and averaged five and a half yards a carry in three years on Rocky Top.

Despite that underwhelming junior campaign, Lewis was still taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the fifth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. All he did as a rookie was rush for 1,364 yards and six touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl championship. After a season-ending injury in 2001, Lewis returned in 2002 to go for over 1,300 yards again.

Then, in 2003, fully healthy and with more experience, he rushed for a league-leading 2,066 yards and averaged over five yards a carry with 14 touchdowns, joining the exclusive 2,000-yard rusher club. He also set the single-game rushing record that year with 295 yards against the Cleveland Browns, which Adrian Peterson later broke with 296 yards in 2007.

Lewis went over 1,000 yards twice and 900 yards another time in three more years with Baltimore. He then spent three years with the Cleveland Browns, going over 1,000 yards twice. So he had seven 1,000-yard seasons and eight of over 900 in the nine years he actually played.

Next. 10 toughest Vols to replace for 2020. dark

After a decade, Lewis was released in 2010 and didn’t sign with another team. However, he finished his career with 10,607 rushing yards, an average of over 400 yards a carry, 12,486 yards from scrimmage and 62 total touchdowns. At 5’11” 245 pounds, he was the perfect back, and he’s the greatest pro running back who ever played for Tennessee football. He tops the list.

For other posts ranking Tennessee football players at specific positions with the greatest NFL careers, please click here.

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