Sherman Lewis, a defensive back and returner for the Jets during their AFL days who had a long career as an NFL assistant coach, died on Friday. He was 83.
Lewis’ death was confirmed by Michigan State University, where he was an All-American running back in 1963.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sherman Lewis,” the university 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.”
Lewis, who played for the Jets in 1966 and ’67, won four Super Bowls throughout his 26-year coaching career in the NFL.
He won three of those titles with the 49ers in the 1980s as a running backs coach under head coach Bill Walsh. Lewis added his fourth ring in 1996 when he held the offensive coordinator role for the Packers as a part of Mike Holmgren’s staff for eight seasons.
Still, Lewis never held a head coaching job in the league.
After Green Bay, he went on to spend time in Minnesota and Detroit — each for two years — as offensive coordinator.
He spent his final NFL season with Washington in 2009.
Before taking his big career step to the NFL, Lewis was an assistant coach for his alma mater across 14 years.
As a Spartan, he rushed for 1,566 yards with 16 touchdowns across three seasons.
He served as a captain and won All-American honors in 1963. He also finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, trailing Navy’s Roger Staubach and Georgia Tech’s Billy Lothridge. Outside of football, Lewis also won Big Ten championships in the long jump and 300-yard dash as a track and field star.
In 2001, Lewis was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Lewis was taken by the Jets in the ninth round of the 1964 AFL Draft, and by the Browns in the 18th round of the 1964 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders before playing for the Jets.
