Ray Lewis is no doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer

Former Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis is a semifinalist for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. There’s no doubt he’ll be inducted.

As the NFL regular season wraps up, the annual Hall of Fame voting is taking place. After a 17-year career, it looks like Ray Lewis is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

The former Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker and 26th overall pick was one of the 27 semifinalists nominated for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Lewis joins Terrell Owens, Brian Urlacher, Isaac Bruce and many other NFL greats on the list.

This nomination shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who knows football. As the process continues on, there’s no question Lewis will be a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee.  If you think otherwise then you’re insane.

If you have any questions, just look at Lewis’ numbers and accomplishment,  they speak for themselves. He racked up 2,643 tackles, 41.5 sacks, and 50 total takeaways in his career. Not to mention, 13 Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls and two Defensive Player of the Year honors. There’s even more I could go into but you get the point. Lewis has earned the honor for everything he’s done on the field.

When you talk about the best middle linebackers of all-time, Lewis makes the Mount Rushmore. It’s not even a stretch to call him the best of all time at the position but I’ll let my Ravens bias stay out of this one. Paired with his talent and presence in the middle of the defense, there really hasn’t been anyone like Lewis and I’m not sure there ever will be.

Of course, it’s not just Lewis’ numbers but everything he’s meant to the city of Baltimore. Lewis and Jonathan Ogden were the franchises first two draft picks. and it’s safe to say both picks panned out pretty well. Lewis was certainly the more polarizing figure of the two and there’s a reason he’s got a statue alongside Johnny Unitas outside of M&T Bank Stadium.

From a fan’s perspective, it’s why you showed up on gamedays. There was nothing better than watching Lewis and his pregame introductions. It’s something you just had to experience in person and if you never saw it, I feel bad for you.

You’ll always see #52 jerseys everywhere you turn in Baltimore. It’s easy for critics and haters to point out Lewis’ connection to the stabbing deaths of two men in 2000 but at this point, it’s like beating a dead horse. That’s the only thing they can ever come up with and it’s white noise.

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Ray Lewis will always be the face of the Baltimore Ravens franchise and will be in Canton, Ohio next season whether you like or not.