Ray Lewis is arguably the best linebacker in NFL history, moonlighting as one of the world’s most motivational speakers. Lewis played all 17 seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, leaving as the franchise’s most decorated player in team history.
When he finally hung up his cleats, he was a 12-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Super Bowl champion, and Super Bowl MVP. His career tackling numbers are still leading the record books. The guy was just elite at everything he did.
Lewis has always been a motivator. He’s a natural—from his pregame huddles to his postgame conferences to his Hall of Fame speech, he’s always been someone who could rally anyone listening. He’s even made appearances at college basketball tournaments, giving halftime locker room speeches. And apparently, stand-up comedians aren’t off the table either.
Ray Lewis changed comedian John Mulaney's life
Lewis’ name was dropped in one of the more unexpected ways on Wednesday night. He was the main character in a story from long-time comedian John Mulaney on his new Netflix series Everybody’s in L.A. with John Mulaney—think part late-night talk show, part surreal variety hour.
Lewis wasn’t a guest on the show, but Mulaney’s story about him made it feel like he was right there in the room. Mulaney was talking about the first time he met the linebacker. It was for a promotional advertisement for EA Sports’ Madden franchise some ten years or so ago. Mulaney recalled Lewis had given him some advice after one of his pilot episodes didn’t get picked up. He told Mulaney to, “Win your crowd.”
Then he commented on Mulaney’s breakfast choices, telling him to eat the proper fuel and to start juicing—beet juice specifically.
Well, as many do after listening to Ray Lewis, Mulaney talked about how he did exactly what the Hall of Famer had told him to do. He had his team pitch his pilot to all the networks, eventually getting picked up by Fox. And he started a juice cleanse as well. Lewis had done it again. He motivated another person to go get what they wanted… or maybe not.
Mulaney wrapped up his Lewis story with one of the more shocking twists, saying:
"So if you ever meet Ray Lewis, don't listen to him, because you'll get a bad sitcom and you'll s*** your pants."
(Here is Mulaney's whole bit.)
Ray Lewis has changed a lot of lives, just maybe not always for the better. If nothing else, Mulaney’s story is proof that even the greatest linebacker of all time can’t save a bad sitcom—or a juice cleanse.