Tim Lewis

NFL PlayerCoach

birth date and age|1961|12|18
Birthplace= Quakertown, Pennsylvania
College=University of PittsburghHigh School=Pennridge High School
Position=Defensive back
Assistant coach
DraftedYear=1983
DraftedRound=1 / Pick 11
player=yes
years=1983-86
teams=Green Bay Packers
DatabaseFootball=LEWISTIM01
Record=0-0
coach=yes
coachingyears=1987-88

1989-92

1993-94

1995-99

2000-03

2004-06

2007-"Present"
coachingteams=Texas A&M
(assistant coach)
Southern Methodist University
(defensive backs coach)
University of Pittsburgh
(defensive backs coach)
Pittsburgh Steelers
(defensive backs coach)
Pittsburgh Steelers
(defensive coordinator)
New York Giants
(defensive coordinator)
Carolina Panthers
(defensive backs coach)

Tim Lewis (born December 18, 1961 in Quakertown, Pennsylvania) is the current defensive backs coach for the NFL's Carolina Panthers, signing a contract on January 19, 2007 to replace the fired coach, Rod Perry. He is also a former player for the Green Bay Packers.

Playing career

Lewis was a first round pick (11th player chosen overall) out of the University of Pittsburgh by the Green Bay Packers in the 1983 NFL Draft. A standout cornerback, he was considered to be one of the more skilled players on what was a relatively weak Packers team. He led or shared the team lead in interceptions in 1983 & 1985, finishing with a career total of 16. His 99 yard interception return for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams on November 18, 1984 remains the Packer team record. His career was cut short by a severe neck injury suffered in a Monday Night game against the Chicago Bears in the third week of the 1986 season.

Coaching career

Beginning his coaching career in 1987 at Texas A&M, Lewis served under his former college coach at Pitt, Jackie Sherrill. He would later spend time at defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants.

Despite his aggressive defensive schemes during his time in Pittsburgh, Lewis reverted to soft defense in his last two years in Pittsburgh and while in New York. Sam Madison, best known for his play as a man to man coverage cornerback, has been dropped back into zone on defense. Another player in the New York Giants defensive unit, Lavar Arrington, has also been dropped back into zone coverage time and time again, despite the fact that his three Pro Bowl seasons in Washington came while Arrington was being sent in on blitzes. Lewis' soft defensive schemes, including a diminished use of blitzing, led to unpopularity among several New York Giants faithful. This is despite his being considered a head coaching candidate by other teams before the 2006 season. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/06/02/BL2006060200822.html] The New York Giants defense in 2006 finished 25th overall, 28th against the pass and 14th against the run, as the team barely made the playoffs at 8-8. He was fired on January 11, 2007.