"I was on the phone with Green Bay" - Ray Lewis reveals how close he was to joining Packers

Ray Lewis is the ultimate Baltimore Raven. Throughout his 17-year NFL career, he was the leading defensive weapon for the Ravens, winning two Super Bowls with the franchise before retiring from the NFL in 2012.

This fairytale story might've never happened, though. The linebacker said during his "ManningCast" appearance on Monday Night Football between the Los Angeles Rams and the Green Bay Packers that he was sure his fate in the 1996 NFL Draft was Green Bay till Baltimore decided to draft him just a pick earlier.

"I was actually on the phone with Green Bay ... they showed the most interest," said Lewis. "I was on the phone, waiting, but then Baltimore called."

Lewis is considered by many to be a precursor to the modern NFL linebacker. His tough-but-smart style of play would become a blueprint for future superstars such as Luke Kuechly.

Had Baltimore decided against picking Ray in 1996, his career could have panned out differently, but playing with Brett Favre would also have given him a chance of winning multiple Super Bowls.

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Ray Lewis was a legendary linebacker

It's been ten years since Ray Lewis retired, but it feels much less. He was such a good player that, even after a decade, the memories are still fresh.

Lewis spent his entire career in Baltimore and was a huge part of a defensive group that also included superstars like Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs. During his playing years, there was not a middle linebacker that could come close to Lewis' level, explaining why he amassed ten All-Pro selections and 13 Pro Bowl nominations. He's widely viewed as the greatest middle linebacker of all time.

Ray Lewis is also one of the few players with multiple nominations as the Defensive Player of the Year, doing so in the 2000 and 2003 seasons. Only Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt have shared this honor with him since the turn of the century.

Lewis ended his career after helping the Ravens win a second Super Bowl ring, beating Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl XLVII.