The NFL world is mourning the death of former New York Jets running back and four-time Super Bowl-winning coach Sherman Lewis at the age of 83.
Lewis’ death was confirmed by Michigan State University, where he was an All-American running back in 1963, before transitioning to the NFL.
A cause of death has not yet been revealed, but tributes are pouring in for the man who recently won an Award of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Â
‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sherman Lewis,’ a Michigan State spokesperson wrote in a statement. ‘Lewis, a first-team All-American in 1963, served as an assistant coach at MSU before a decorated NFL coaching career that included four Super Bowl titles. We send our deepest condolences to the Lewis family.’Â
Lewis was selected in both the NFL and AFL Drafts in 1964, and played for just one NFL team during his career – the New York Jets in 1966 and 1967.
It was in his post-playing career that he had the most success, winning four Super Bowl titles as a coach, three of which with the San Francisco 49ers.
Sherman Lewis, a four-time Super Bowl-winning coach, has died at the age of 83
Lewis is pictured (right) speaking to his players while Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator
He spent seven years, between 1983 and 1990, as the team’s running backs coach under Bill Walsh, winning the title in 1985, ’88 and ’90.
After leaving the Bay Area, he became offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers for eight seasons under Mike Holmgren, and it was there that he picked up a fourth ring.
The Packers beat the Patriots in January 1997 to mark their third Super Bowl, and Lewis’ fourth as an assistant coach.
A disappointing quirk of his career was that he never had a chance to become a head coach, something he spoke about in various interviews.
In 2015, he reflected on his career by saying: ‘We won Super Bowls in San Francisco and one in Green Bay. And I got to work with some great coaches and players.Â
Lewis played running back for the New York Jets across two seasons in 1966 and 1967
‘No question I wished I had the chance to be a head coach. 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.’
Lewis’ final role in the NFL came in 2009 when he worked as an offensive consultant, even calling plays for the team after head coach Jim Zorn was stripped of those duties by the front office.Â
On X, tributes poured in from fans, with one writing: ‘What a great man and coach. I grew up down street from Lewis’. RIP Coach. Condolences Kip and family.’
Another added: ‘I didn’t know that he was a Heisman finalist, but I remember him as an assistant coach. ‘Because he came up in the era before the Rooney Rule, he never got an opportunity to be a head coach.’
