There is truly no one quite like Shaquille O’Neal! Over a decade past his retirement, the 4x NBA champ is still dominantly ruling the spotlight. Then again, it was his sports career, rather than his analyst role, that remains deeply ingrained in the hearts of most fans. As Shaq made his way to the Lakers, little did the fans know that another extraordinary talent was about to rise, not from basketball, but from football. He would later earn the well-deserved title of being one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, none other than the legendary Ray Lewis.

The Super Bowl MVP spent his entire 17-year career with the Ravens. During that time, he won two Lombardy trophies, received 2 DPOY awards, and an impressive 13 Pro Bowls. It’s no surprise that he was compared to the NBA legend, while Lewis was still associated with the league.

Ray Lewis had an impact much like the 7 feet giant

According to a 2011 article by Bleacher Report, the 2x Super Bowl champ was ranked alongside other NFL athletes who had a similar impact to Shaq. At that time, Shaq had already retired from the NBA, while Lewis continued to dominate the football field, playing for the Ravens. The following year, the relentless LB added his second Super Bowl ring.

Topping the esteemed list was none other than Brett Favre, an absolute marvel on the field and a proud member of the Packers before Aaron Rodgers took over. Favre, dubbed “the gun-slinging quarterback,” was praised for his unique playing style that defied the playbook. Following Lewis in second place was Ed Reed, hailed as a “ball-hawking safety,” who not only won the Defensive Player of the Year award but also a Lombardy. Lewis was placed between Favre and Reed, earning a spot among the greats, like Chuck Bednarik and Dick Butkus, who are considered the best LBs in NFL history.

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“I was very disappointed”: 1 Electricity Failure in 100 Years of NFL Almost Cost Ray Lewis a Super Bowl & Left Peyton Manning Embarrassed

As these legends experienced numerous transformations throughout their careers, they encountered unprecedented changes even in their post-retirement lives. Recently, the former linebacker also had to cope with a tragic event.

Lewis lost his eldest son to an overdose

The Hall of Famer experienced an unfortunate tragedy a month ago when he lost his 28-year-old son to an overdose. It was reported that the former LB’s son, Ray Lewis III, was found unresponsive by the authorities after an emergency call. When the medical team arrived, a friend was performing COR on Lewis III, and another friend was screaming for Narcan, a drug that counters opioid overabigdoses. Unfortunately, their efforts couldn’t restore his heartbeat, and the revival was unsuccessful.

Ray Lewis III was a talented musician and had a passion for football, following in his father’s footsteps. Since the tragedy, Lewis has been fairly absent from social media, mourning the loss of his son.

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