Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis proclaimed that even at 32 years old, his best football is still ahead of him.
However, despite that optimism during last week?s mandatory organized team activity, Lewis also admits everything comes to an end. That is why the likely future Hall of Famer said he is constantly preparing himself for life after football.
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From his various endorsements to business ventures to going back and earning his college degree in 2004, Lewis said that while he still has a lot of football left, he has plenty to occupy him after retiring.
“The thing is football is a stepping stone for where I?m really trying to go,” Lewis said. “It?s a great platform, but now business-wise it?s where the ultimate thing is for me. I don?t want to work my entire life with someone writing me a check. I want to be the one writing checks at the end of the day.”
A big part of his off-the-field work now centers on building his charitable organization, the Ray Lewis Foundation, which provides assistance to disadvantaged youth in Baltimore City and the surrounding areas. Lewis said giving back is something he strived to do even as he entered the NFL in 1996.
“Most of the time I just go back to my life when I didn?t have things,” Lewis said. “My mom tried to do what she tried to do, but at the same time, there were struggles. There were things we had to overcome. Today God has blessed me to do some great things so giving back is the ultimate.”
A large part of Lewis? effort to build his business and charitable causes also centers on developing corporate relationships, which was evident during last week?s Ray?s Summer Days charity event for his foundation.
From title sponsor, K Bank, to Vitamin Water to Bacardi, Lewis has proven himself to be an extremely marketable player, which was an uncertainty seven years ago following pleading guilty to a misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge in connection to a double murder in Atlanta.
“That?s what excites me the most is the relationships that I?m able to [build with] people and make sure that they have a great time,” said Lewis regarding his fundraiser. “It?s always easy to say we need sponsors and money, but it?s another thing to create powerful relationships that last a lifetime.”
