Lewis was drafted 26th oveall in the 1st Round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Four years later, Lewis was a Super Bowl MVP when Baltimore defeated the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. In that Super Bowl-winning 2000 NFL season, Lewis was part of a famous linebacker group that also had outside linebackers Jamie Sharper and Peter Boulware. Lewis was elected as the NFL Defensive player of the Year in 2000, and won it again in 2003.