Ray Lewis Leadership Analysis Leadership is defined as “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”. In my opinion, leadership is one of the most desirable qualities that a person can possess. No matter the environment, leaders are needed in every aspect of life. Children need leaders to help them develop, students need leaders to help them learn, and teams need leaders to help the group achieve a common goal. But the real question emerges, how does one become a leader? Are leaders born, or do they rise to the occasion? How do leaders get their peers to rally around their actions? Former National Football League linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens epitomizes what a leader should be on the field. Lewis was a linebacker for 17 seasons (1996-2012) for the Baltimore Ravens, and the early 2000’s Ravens defense is considered one of the greatest units in sports history. However, while Ray Lewis was viewed as one of the best on the field leaders in NFL history, however his legacy, reputation, and image were tainted by actions away from the playing field.. How is it that a figure like Ray Lewis could be so revered on the field, but off the field he was heavily criticized for his actions and behavior? Throughout this essay I will analyze Ray Lewis’ upbringing and discuss how he developed his leadership qualities that caused former teammate Jamal Lewis to say, “In recent history, I can’t really think of a player who has been as valuable to a team as Ray Lewis has been. He’s a different player, as far as his physicality, his passion off the field, his work ethic, and at the same time he can lead vocally. You don’t have all of that in one player, and I think that’s what makes him a Hall of Famer and probably the best linebacker to ever play the game.” (Belmont 41). I will draw on Lewis’ leadership qualities and compare and contrast them to figures we studied throughout the semester in class. Furthermore, I will discuss and analyze how his peers and opponents viewed him on the field as a leader versus how society viewed him off the field and the controversies that followed him throughout his career. I will start off by asking the question, was Ray Lewis a born leader, or did he develop these skills and traits over time? In Plato’s The Republic, Plato discusses the Allegory of the Cave with Glaucon, and in these talks Plato explains to Glaucon what qualities he believes are pertinent for a leader to exhibit. Early in their talk, Plato stated, “need I remind you - or do you remember – that we said if a man loves something, he ought to show his love for all of it?” I believe this first quote from Plato is clearly exemplified by Ray Lewis in two different quotes. First, Lewis said, “I’m only here to serve people. I don’t play this game for wins and losses, I play for hope, faith, and love” (Dunn 29). Furthermore, Lewis followed up by stating, “I fight for the man next to me. It don’t matter about me, what matters about me is sacrificing for you; for the ultimate goal which is us” (Dunn 29). It is clear that Lewis takes his love for the game, his teammates, and his faith to a level higher than most of his peers, but where did this love begin? I believe that Ray Lewis was a born leader, and throughout his early life he was put in situations to take responsibility and display the qualities he was born with. Ray Lewis was the oldest of five children in a single parent home, and as a result Lewis became a caretaker for his four younger siblings. His mother, Sunseria, explained, “When he was nine years old, Ray began handling chores and duties that are normally an adult’s responsibilities. He became the “man of the house”. Through caring for his younger siblings, Ray developed leadership qualities at a very early age” (Dunn 10). As Plato suggests, I think that Ray Lewis was the type of leader born with the intellectual capacity to be a leader, and he also displays certain propensities and an ideal scenario to show his will and desire to be a leader. His mother continued on saying that, “by me working two to three jobs at the time, Ray cooked food, braided hair, and got his sisters and brother ready for the next school day before I got home from work” (Dunn 11). I don’t believe that Ray Lewis fits Plato’s “criteria” that a leader is made, because he was a leader well before he had a history of accomplishments or a specific area/skill that he was particularly gifted in. Furthermore, in a YouTube video, Ray Lewis describes himself as “a natural born leader”, and the clip continues to show him telling a teammate in pre-game warm-ups, “follow my lead, and I promise you I will get you there”. I believe this goes to show that Ray Lewis has always embraced his role as a leader, and he chomps at the bit to lead. I really believe that Ray Lewis feeds off his own ability and desire to lead, and as a direct result people are drawn to him. Even though Lewis’ leadership skills blossomed at a young age, there is a significant difference between being the leader of four younger siblings and becoming the leader of one of the greatest defensive units in NFL history. In 1996, the Baltimore Ravens selected Ray Lewis with the 26th overall pick of the draft. Ironically, Ray Lewis’ first game was also the first game for the Baltimore Ravens franchise (the franchise moved to Baltimore from Cleveland). Ray Lewis established his presence on the field right away, being named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his first NFL game, a game in which he recorded nine tackles and an interception. In 2000, then Ravens coach Brian Billick recalls, “veterans were perfectly happy to let Lewis lead even when he’d only been a pro for four years” (Belmont 40). Billick went on to say, “if he saw someone who was not being a professional, you knew at some point he was going to cozy up to him and throw his arm around him, and not be the kind to embarrass him or call him out but pull him aside and say, 'Hey, let's go look at some film. Let me show you where you ought to be looking.” (Belmont 40). I think this perfectly exemplifies how Ray Lewis was able to establish himself as a leader in the Ravens locker room. He took it upon himself to ensure that his teammates were adequately prepared, and he sought to help them without embarrassing them. I think this is key because of the fact that he could find an avenue to subtly and effectively reach out to some of the most prideful/self-sustaining men on the planet. In the same YouTube video referenced earlier, Ray Lewis goes on to say that he doesn’t give his teammates advice “for my benefit, but it is for the benefit of us”. The middle linebacker is the heart of a defense and is responsible for calling plays, making audibles, and insuring that all the other players are in the right position (essentially the quarterback of the defense). Ray Lewis became a leader through his work ethic, motivation, and his ability to inspire his teammates.
I believe that one of Niccolo Machiavelli’s quotes from The Prince perfectly sums up how Ray Lewis took over as a leader for the Baltimore Ravens. Machiavelli stated, “but when a prince who founds on the people knows how to command and is a man full of heart, does not get frightened in adversity, does not fail to make other preparations, and with his spirit and his orders keeps the generality of peoples inspired, he will never find himself deceived by them and he will see he has laid his foundations well”. I can’t read this quote without imagining Ray Lewis and how he leads on the field and in the locker room. Before the most recent Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, Ray Lewis gave a speech to the team in the locker room that left many of his teammates “sobbing” and as Raven player Brendan Ayanbedejo said, “I mean we were ready to die for each other out there. And I know that’s a bit dramatic, but that’s the way this team is. That’s what Ray has talked about” (Belmont 29). What could Ray Lewis have possibly talked about that made is teammates so emotional? Love. Lewis said that “love put us over the top” and that the Ravens were a “love story”, similar to “Star Wars and Gladiator” (Belmont 29). Lewis told the team that he loved them and that it was the closest he had ever been with a team in his 17 years. Ayanbedejo went on to say “people were crying. He was crying. It was the last time he was ever gonna stand up in front of us. So it was an intimate, special moment we had together” (Belmont 30). Ray Lewis is a man that speaks with passion and from the heart, and it is quite a feat to bring a locker room full of 53 of the world’s greatest athletes to tears.
As I talked about earlier, Ray Lewis plays the game with a full heart. I think the way that Lewis plays the game with his heart sets him apart from other “leaders”, whether it is another athlete or a leader in the business world. Ray Lewis leads with an unwavering confidence as he leads his team into a game. His attitude and mentality are something that his team gravitates to and feeds off of. He openly said he plays for his teammates and makes sacrifices for the greater good of the team. Machiavelli also said the “ends justify the means”, and I believe that Ray Lewis took this to heart and interpreted it as whatever has to be done; he is willing to do it to make the Baltimore Ravens a more successful team. The football field is the perfect place for Ray Lewis to establish himself as a leader because in sports, because on the field, respect is earned, it is not given. On the field, a leader is pushed to their limits physically, emotionally, and mentally. It takes an extremely special person to take leadership over some of the world’s greatest athletes, yet Ray Lewis found a way to achieve this. I believe that leadership in the business world has transformed from a fiery passion to a cheap enthusiasm that doesn’t truly inspire people. I’m not saying that CEO’s need to give Ray Lewis style speeches in a conference room, but I believe that there needs to be more of an emotional connection and leadership in the business world.
Ray Lewis is the unquestioned leader in the Baltimore Ravens locker room. Brett Fuller, a former NFL team pastor, views the way the Ravens gravitate around Ray Lewis and his words as awe inspiring. Fuller claims, “very few guys can say the team is my team and have it not affect the locker room” (Belmont 10). This quote just goes to show how much respect Ray Lewis’ teammates have for him as a leader. As discussed earlier, the way that Ray Lewis approaches business and makes sure that all of his teammates are prepared led to him being a leader in the locker room. The Baltimore Ravens came to expect Ray Lewis to show up to the facility each day and find a way to make the Ravens a better unit. According to Belmont, “Nobody sniffs out a fake in sports faster than another athlete. If Lewis didn’t live his words, the Ravens would have stopped listening” (Belmont 8). It only took Lewis a few years to earn respect in the Ravens locker room, and this respect only grew over his career. Mike Singletary, one of the other greatest linebackers of all-time in NFL history, described watching Lewis play as, “Only a few guys play the game with their heart and their souls. A lot of guys don’t know what you mean by that. You don’t know until you hear it, and then you see it and you go, there it is” (Dunn 29). To go back to Machiavelli’s quote, I believe Ray Lewis hit all of the high points. Ray Lewis knows how to command, is a man full of heart, does not get frightened in adversity, does not fail to prepare, and inspires the people with his spirit and attitude.
I also believe that Ray Lewis’ preparation for games compares to Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. While football is a game and in no way like war/battle, I believe that Ray Lewis is similar to Sun Tzu in the way he prepares for his opponent, whether it be an opposing offense on the football field or an opposing army. Sun Tzu believes that the “people must be in harmony with their leaders, so that they will accompany them in life and unto death without fear of mortal peril”. While this is an extreme example for a game like football, Ravens teammate Brendan Ayanbedejo did state that they were “ready to die for each other out there”. I think that shows how effective Ray Lewis was a leader, because he was able to rally men paid millions of dollars to do their job, come together as a unit and play for each other so that the team could meet their ultimate goal. Sun Tzu also goes on to say that “victory is the main object in war”. Similarly, in a YouTube video where Ray Lewis is addressing the Stanford basketball team, he shouts, “you gotta be pissed off for greatness! Because if you aren’t pissed off for greatness, you are ok with being mediocre! And ain’t no man ok with being basic”. While the deliverance of the message is drastically different, they both get the point across that victory is the expectation, and anything the leader considers anything less a failure. Finally, Sun Tzu claims, “it is the business of the general to be serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled, not confused”. While Ray Lewis is not necessarily serene, his message is clear and impartial. Every single day he works to find a way to make his team better as a group, and he looks out for his teammates and is always trying to find a way to help them improve in order to help the team be more successful.
One of the biggest factors that drives Ray Lewis every day is his faith in God. While this is a controversial issue because of his off the field issues, I will get to that later in the essay. For now I will focus on how Ray Lewis’ faith impacts his attitude, his teammates, and the way he approaches everyday life. I believe that Ray Lewis’ faith can be compared to Saint Joan, who we studied in class. Joan believed that God talked to her through voices and she believed that God was on her side, and she went to the Catholic Church in France to tell them about her talks with God. Joan actually did several great things for France because of her faith and what God told her, however, she was ultimately persecuted for her faith. While Ray Lewis was never persecuted to the extent that Joan was, he was still criticized heavily because his faith did not match his actions. Joan was quoted as saying, “one thousand like me can stop them. Then like me can stop them with God on our side”. Joan honestly believed that if God was with them, then who could be against them? Similarly, I believe that Ray Lewis took a similar mentality onto the football field. During Baltimore’s run to the 2013 Super Bowl, Ray Lewis walked around the locker room claiming that, “no weapon formed against you shall prosper?” (Belmont 9), which is a Biblical reference. Although it may sound odd to people outside the Ravens locker room, many of the people are driven by his faith. Ravens player Morgan Cox stated, “to have such a big personality be so passionate about his faith it certainly helps us all bring it out” (Belmont 9). I think it says so much about Ray Lewis as a leader that his teammates rally around his faith, and I also believe it is an interesting parallel to the success that France achieved driven by Joan’s faith. For the people that doubt that Lewis faith is a legitimate belief, Belmont goes on to say that, “faith is a tricky thing in sports. It bathes some players in a luminous light of good while making others look like cheap opportunists. Many of those same fans who hang on the every word of Tim Tebow express disgust at the very idea of Ray Lewis, despite the fact that Tebow's expressions of Christianity have had far less impact in the Bronco’s and Jet’s locker rooms than Lewis's have had in Baltimore's. To the teammates of both men, Ray Lewis is a far bigger hero than Tim Tebow.” (Belmont 7). I take this to mean that Lewis has used his faith to inspire and motivate the people that follow him. However, there is a huge difference between Ray Lewis and Tim Tebow in their off the field mannerisms. Tebow is as squeaky clean as they come, while Lewis has encountered issues with the law and morality. I believe the quote above means that players have seen how Ray Lewis’ faith has changed his life, and they are inspired by the change they have witnessed. Lewis told Channel Magazine, “God wanted to use me for a true testimony. Being great is not what you do, it is what you go through. There is nothing that will ever make me question God” (Dunn 25). I think this quote perfectly analyzes the above quote from Belmont. While Tebow lives a Godly life, the players are drawn to the polarizing story of Ray Lewis because they can relate to his times of struggle, and they are motivated by how he has been able to turn his life around. He leads by example, and lives a life honoring God, although a drastic event caused him to realize he needed to make significant changes in his life. Interestingly, Ray Lewis’ quote parallels another quote from Joan of Arc. Joan said, “We are all subject to the King of Heaven. You must not think about your duty to your feudal lord, but about your duty to God”. Ray Lewis is similar to Joan of Arc because they are both solid in their faith, and both have been persecuted and scolded for the extent to which they pursue their faith.. Saint Joan had a charisma similar to Ray Lewis, even though they addressed extremely different audiences. Now, I will discuss the issues that have plagued Ray Lewis’ life off the football field and I will discuss why people view him as a flawed leader off the field. Furthermore, I will explain how me maintains such a great following in locker rooms and on the field despite of his off the field issues. Although Ray Lewis claims to be a Godly man and live by faith, he has six children from four women. This is not behavior condoned by the Bible, and Ray Lewis has received harsh criticism for this. However, he “makes an effort to be a constant presence in their lives. He tries to call each of his children daily, and he schedules a movie date with his two daughters on Fridays” (Dunn 40). He is criticized for having multiple children from multiple women, but I believe it is a sign of leadership that he takes an active role in the life of each of his children. Growing up fatherless, Ray Lewis understands the pain and agony of not having a father figure in your life as a child. However, this issue has caused some people to view him as a hypocrite and cite this as a reason why they do not enjoy that he is so adamant about his faith. While this issue has followed Ray Lewis, a much larger cloud has hung over his head since 2000.
On January 31, 2000, Ray Lewis was outside of a nightclub in Atlanta, Georgia with two friends when a fight broke out, and the end result of the fracas was the death of two men involved in an altercation with Ray Lewis and his friends. The two men were stabbed to death, and Ray Lewis and his two friends were investigated and put through trial. Although Lewis pleaded down from murder charges to obstruction of justice, many people still believed that he was guilty. The suit that Lewis wore that night was never found, and the blood of one of the victims was found in Lewis’ limousine. However, the jury returned not-guilty verdicts for all three men and everyone walked free. Although it is debatable as to if Ray Lewis was the killer, the general public believes that Lewis “knows more than he has divulged” (Belmont 47). In fact, the families of the murdered men are sickened by the publicity that Ray Lewis receives from the media. One of the aunt’s of the murdered men cried, “How can somebody help commit a murder and people praise him for playing a game? They’re chanting and giving him the glory. For what?” (Belmont 45). Needless to say, this cloud has hung over Ray Lewis ever since the trial.
After winning the Super Bowl a year after the murder trial, he was still under the microscope. Disney World, Wheaties, and the NFL shunned him from endorsement deals typically given to the Super Bowl MVP, which Lewis won. How does Ray Lewis view the murder trial and the aftermath? “He considers the murder trial as a blessing in disguise, because it made him realize that he needed a change in his life. As he walked out of the courthouse in June of 2000, he told his mother that he was a changed man” (Dunn 25). I believe at this time Ray Lewis reaffirmed his faith and truly began to turn his life around. While I do not justify the way he did not cooperate with the murder investigation, I think that the event caused him to grow as a leader. At this point, Ray Lewis turned a ragged life into a good life. I believe that times of adversity separate a “fake” leader from a real leader. It is much easier to lead when things are going your way, but when the tables turn and the odds are against you, true leaders emerge in an attempt to right the wrongs. Orlando Magic vice president Pat Williams, a firm Christian, stated, “according to the Bible his sins are forgiven. He has come to Christ later in life, but isn’t that true of so many? The Bible teaches us that not only are our sins forgiven but they are forgotten” (Belmont 8). That quote really speaks volumes, because the same people that persecute him and accuse him of not being a “real Christian” are also not acknowledging that the Bible teaches to forgive and forget sins. Ray Lewis did something that is very tough for a leader to do, he admitted he was wrong and needed change. While some of the general public has struggled to let go of Ray Lewis’ off the field issues, sponsors such as “Visa, Reebok, Under Armour, SoBe Lifewater, Old Spice, and Electronic Arts” (Belmont 51) have endorsed him in recent years. Krystal Beamon, a professor of sociology and anthropology at UT-Arlington said it best when she claimed that, “We want to believe the hero story. The reality is this guy was charged with two murders that he likely was involved in, but we see him as such a super human in an institution we value so much that we begin to want to see him as a good man. We adopt this narrative that he’s reformed and he loves the Lord and he’s a better man. We want to believe that. That’s how important sports are in our society and how much we want heroes” (Belmont 52). While it is undoubtedly true that Ray Lewis has gained the respect of his teammates in the locker room, he does not have the respect of all the general public. The general public sees his gestures on television, his emotional speeches, and his fiery attitude on the field. While the murder trial was a rough time for Ray Lewis, I believe that he became a better man and a better leader through the trials and tribulations of his investigation. Lewis saw that he was a broken man and that something needed to change, and he took action and made the necessary changes to be a better man.
Unfortunately, Ray Lewis continued to encounter issues and was even called out by an opposing player’s wife during his final season during the playoff run. Wes Welker’s wife, Burns, posted on her Facebook status, “Proud of my husband and the Pats! By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis’ Wikipedia page. Six kids, four wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. Yay. What a hall of fame player! A true model!” (Belmont 66). While what Wes Welker’s wife posted was predominately true, is it fair to hold a man’s past against him if he claims to be a changed man? All of the events listed by Welker’s wife occurred about 13 years prior to her post. I believe that Ray Lewis has made some terrible decisions in his life, but so has everyone. With that said, being a leader and professional athlete comes with living up to a higher standard. As a society, we encourage people to make better choices, but now that Ray Lewis has made a life change and promotes a Christian based life, some people still choose to hold his past over his head. The biggest difference between the ways that society views Ray Lewis and the way that his teammates see Ray Lewis is that society struggles with forgiveness and judgment. God uses broken pieces to form beautiful creations. Let me repeat, because I believe it is worth reiterating, God uses broken pieces to form beautiful creations. Ray’s close company and the men he leads with passion have chosen to celebrate his success, stand by him through failure, and work together for his future.
What I take away from the Ray Lewis’ saga is that it is never too late to seek change and better yourself as a leader. Ray Lewis committed to becoming a better leader of his personal life, his family, his team, and his faith. The general public that cites his faith as a reason they view him as a poor leader because he does not reflect Biblical principles need to remember that some of the greatest men in the Bible were murders, thieves, or adulterers, yet they found favor in the eyes of God. Ray Lewis is arguably one of the greatest football players of all time because of the passion he brings to the field, the commitment he has to his team, and the effort he requires from himself and his teammates at all times. Ray Lewis has legitimate power in the Ravens locker room as a captain and a leader of the organization. However, he has also gained referent power because of the respect he has commanded from his teammates because of his effort, leadership, and mentality. Furthermore, Ray Lewis has expert power on the field because he is such a talented football player. This leaves the question, what kind of power does Ray Lewis have off the field? I believe that if you were to ask Ray Lewis, he would state that the people who matter in his life – his family and the Baltimore Ravens – realize the transformation that has taken place in his life and the fact that they recognize him as a leader that is willing to fight for them at all costs in order to make them a better unit, and the fact that the group of people so close to him recognize that is more than enough. The fact that Ray Lewis is such a polarizing figure because of how he is perceived on the field vs. off the field is very captivating. I believe the fact that Lewis has had no off the field issues since his murder trial in 2000 is an indicator that he has turned his life around. Unfortunately, this is not good enough for some people, and people will continue to question his legacy and believe that his reputation is tarnished.
What kind of legacy does Ray Lewis leave? That really depends on whom you ask. Obviously, Wes Welker’s wife believes that you need to skim his Wikipedia page to see what kind of man he really is. On the field, his teammates saw him as the unquestioned leader of the Baltimore Ravens franchise, and he was the leader of a defensive unit that is constantly talked about as one of the greatest defenses of all time. The people of Baltimore revere Ray Lewis because of the success he brought to the Ravens and the pride he brought to the city. If you ask the families of the deceased men from the stabbing in Atlanta, they will tell you that he is a murderer and should not be viewed as a leader or a hero. While it is true that you can’t run from your past, Ray Lewis has used his past to shape his future, and he has learned from his experiences to become a better leader. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell thinks highly of Ray Lewis, calling him a “tremendous voice of reason. He was able to take an unfortunate incident, and he grew from a bad situation and he made very positive changes in his life and the lives of many others. That’s a great thing” (Belmont 69). Roger Goodell hit the nail on the head, and I completely agree that Ray Lewis made a lasting impact on all of his teammates. All in all, I believe that Ray Lewis’ road to redemption is as close to complete as it can become. He will never be able to sway the opinion of everyone, but he has left his mark on his teammates via his work ethic, leadership, and passion that he brought to the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL. In parting, I leave you with this quote that Ray Lewis gave the media the Thursday before his final game, a Super Bowl victory for the Baltimore Ravens over the San Francisco 49ers. “I think the greatest thing you can ever be remembered for is the impact and things that you had on other people,” Lewis said on the Thursday before the Super Bowl. “At the end of the day, with all of the men that I’ve been around, to one day look back here and listen to men say, ‘He was one of people who helped changed my life,’ is probably one of the greatest legacies to be remembered for” (Belmont 77).