Cam Newton, Richard Dent among Atlanta’s top 10 NFL stars

8. Mo Lewis, LB, J.C. Murphy

After getting his start at J.C. Murphy High School, Lewis stayed in state to play college football with the Georgia Bulldogs. He quickly became a star at Georgia which led to becoming the 63rd selection in the 1991 NFL Draft by the Jets. Lewis was a tackling machine early in his NFL career, racking up season totals of 145, 158, 130 and 111 in the 1992-1995 campaigns, respectively. He also had a nose for the ball, making eight interceptions from 1993-1995, three of which he returned for scores. After missing half of the 1996 season and enduring a down year in 1997, Lewis came back to have arguably the best year of his career in 1998 as he was named a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl performer. Lewis would make the Pro Bowl each of the next two seasons as well and have his first 100-plus tackle campaign since 1995 in 2001. Lewis’ 13-year NFL career would end in 2003, but it was the 2001 season where he made the play he’s best known for as he delivered a shot to Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe along the sideline, unofficially beginning the Pats’ dynasty under Tom Brady.

September 23, 2001

Drew Bledsoe is hit by the NY Jets Mo Lewis and is replaced after 1 more series by unproven Tom Brady

Drew would never get his job back.

Brady and the Pats would go on to win 6 Super Bowls in an unprecedented run of excellencepic.twitter.com/MA4J4e6pk0

— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) September 23, 2021