Jermaine Lewis, a local product of the University of Maryland, was chosen in the fifth round (153rd overall) and became an explosive dual-threat player for Baltimore. With exceptional speed and fearless instincts as both a wide receiver and return specialist, Lewis proved to be one of the franchise’s most versatile playmakers, offering Baltimore’s offense and special teams a burst of instant energy.

Lewis turned lack of stature (5’ 7”) into an open-field advantage. Possessing elite 4.3 speed, twitchy acceleration, and razor-sharp cutback ability, he erased angles for coverage teams the moment he caught the ball. Lined up at receiver, he blew past cornerbacks on deep post routes; on punt and kickoff returns, his patient setup behind wall blocks and decisive burst made him a constant threat to score from anywhere on the field.

Lewis became the top return specialist in professional football during the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1997, he led the NFL in punt return average with an impressive 15.6 yards per return, also catching 42 passes for 648 yards and six touchdowns. His performance improved in 1998, earning his first Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selections after posting 784 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns, and two punt return touchdowns.

His dominance in returns persisted as he led the NFL with two punt return touchdowns in 1998 and 2000. In 2001, Lewis had an outstanding season, leading the league with 519 punt return yards and accumulating 1,039 kickoff return yards, earning his second Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro distinctions.

Lewis’ iconic moment for Baltimore came during Super Bowl XXXV, the game's biggest stage. In the third quarter, after the Giants reduced Baltimore's lead to 17–7 with a kickoff return TD, Lewis responded immediately. He caught the next kickoff, dashed through a gap, and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown, instantly halting New York's comeback and sealing the game. He finished with 152 all-purpose yards and a TD, capping the franchise's first Super Bowl victory. 

After a salary-cap squeeze following the 2001 season, Baltimore left Lewis unprotected in the 2002 NFL Expansion Draft, where he was picked sixth overall by the Houston Texans.

Lewis generated 8,001 all-purpose yards—a franchise record that stood for years—and scored 23 total touchdowns (17 receiving, six punt returns). His six career punt return touchdowns remain the benchmark for Baltimore special teams play.

2-7–96-7-31–396-60-10-300