The football world is mourning the loss of a respected coach, Sherman Lewis, a former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and one of the most accomplished assistant coaches in NFL history. He passed away on Friday, May 15, at 83.

Lewis built a career spanning over four decades in football. In college, he was the All-American running back at Michigan State. He was the 250th overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft.

After wrapping up his career as a player in 1967, Lewis contributed as a coaching assistant to various NFL teams, including the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, among others.

"Sherm Lewis is a Giant in his death as he was a Giant his life," said Clinton Jones, a former MSU star and College Football Hall of Famer, paying tribute to his former teammate.

Born on June 29, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, Lewis arrived at Michigan State under legendary coach Duffy Daugherty and quickly became one of the program's most celebrated athletes. According to the Detroit Free Press, he captained both the football team and the track team during his time with the Spartans.

His 1963 season stands as the highlight of his college career. Lewis was named a first-team All-American and the Football News Player of the Year, rushing for 577 yards on 90 carries while adding 303 receiving yards on 11 catches.

He finished his college career with 1,566 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns and was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.

After transitioning into coaching, Lewis spent 14 seasons as an assistant at Michigan State before joining the San Francisco 49ers in 1983 as the wide receivers coach. Lewis was later promoted to the wide receivers coach in 1991 in San Francisco. He helped the franchise win three Super Bowls over nine seasons.

His next stints included working as an offensive coordinator at the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit. Lewis wrapped up his coaching career in 2009 as an offensive consultant at the Washington Redskins.

How Sherman Lewis Put Green Bay Back on Top

Lewis joined the Green Bay Packers in 1992 and helped Brett Favre lead the franchise to a Super Bowl title in 1996. He became the first Black offensive coordinator in NFL history to win a Super Bowl.

Over 22 NFL seasons, his teams compiled a record of 219-131-1. Lewis never got the chance to be a head coach. However, he was grateful for the experience he had in the NFL.

"No question I wished I had the chance to be a head coach," he said in an interview back in 2015. "But looking back, I did all I could. I was disappointed, but I'm not going to hang my hat on that. I had a great career and was fortunate to coach in the NFL."

Playing under Duffy Daugherty, he became the first player from the segregated South to earn a substantial role with the Spartans.

His contributions to football continue to live on through the players, coaches, and fans he inspired over the years.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar