It’s been more than a decade since Ray Lewis last suited up for the Baltimore Ravens, yet he’s still out here adding accomplishments to his resume. The latest? A spot in Madden’s Ring of Honor—their highest tribute to players who were the best of the best.
Lewis was one of five inductees into the Madden NFL 25 Ring of Honor class, joining Peyton Manning, Marshawn Lynch, Joe Thomas, and Sean Taylor. That’s awesome company. And if you’ve played a Madden game in the last 20 years, you already know why Lewis made the cut.
For those who haven't, Lewis was the face of Madden 2005, the first defensive player to grace the cover, and the inspiration behind the “Hit Stick” feature (coolest feature ever) that made us all think we could put someone through the Earth with one flick of the joystick. Not bad for a guy whose real-life hits made people feel similarly.
Ray Lewis is forever cemented in Madden lore
EA Sports isn’t subtle about what this honor really means. This is more than just being a great player. This is about being unforgettable, transcendental. As they put it in their press release:
“The Ring of Honor stands as Madden NFL’s premier recognition program, celebrating legendary players who’ve shaped football culture through extraordinary leadership, athleticism, and iconic moments that live on in both NFL history and Madden NFL gaming legacy.”
Lewis checks all those boxes. Twelve Pro Bowls. Eight First-Team All-Pro selections. Two Defensive Player of the Year awards. One Super Bowl MVP. And a historic career cemented forever in the Hall of Fame. Legend.
He’s a record-setter—still the only player in NFL history with at least 40 sacks and 30 interceptions. His 50 career takeaways trail only Jack Ham among linebackers since the 1970 merger. Those are absurd stats from a guy who played like every snap was personal.
“Lewis’ presence in Madden NFL highlighted defensive mastery and intensity, with his signature tackles influencing the ‘Hit Stick’ game mechanic and elevating the importance of defense in gameplay. Lewis was the first defensive player on the cover.”
Ray Lewis. Madden NFL Ring of Honor Class of 2025.#MaddenROH | @Ravens pic.twitter.com/MW33KJWLov
— Madden NFL 25 (@EAMaddenNFL) March 19, 2025
Now, as part of Madden Ultimate Team, Lewis will be immortalized with a 99 overall card featuring maxed-out ratings for tackling, play recognition, and power. If that feels unfair, it's because it is. Lewis was already a cheat code, but this honor just takes things to a whole other level.
Lewis joins a Ring of Honor that already includes legends like Randy Moss, Michael Vick, and Deion Sanders. Talk about elite company. When it comes to icons who changed football and Madden forever, Ray Lewis is one of the few to profoundly do both. Honestly, it wouldn't be a legitimate list if he wasn't included. They literally created the "Hit Stick" because of him. Say less.