Chris Lewis (American football)

Chris Lewis
Personal information
Born: (1980-12-13) December 13, 1980 (age 44)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Long Beach Polytechnic
(Long Beach, California)
College:Stanford
Position:Quarterback
Undrafted:2004
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Chris Lewis (born December 13, 1980) is a former American football quarterback.

Early life

Lewis was born and grew up in Long Beach, California and attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where he played football and volleyball.[1] He was a four-year starter at quarterback and was named All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) as a junior and senior and named first-team All-Moore League three times.[2] As a senior, Lewis completed 174 of 293 pass attempts for 3,170 yards and 43 touchdowns and was named the CIF Offensive Player of the Year and the Gatorade National Player of the Year.[3] He finished his high school career with 8,616 passing yards and a California-record 107 touchdown passes.[4] Lewis committed to play college football at Stanford, where his older sister Robyn was playing volleyball.[5]

College career

Lewis redshirted his freshman year at Stanford.[6] He began his redshirt freshman season as the backup to starter Randy Fasani.[7] Lewis saw his first significant playing action against fifth-ranked Texas after Fasani suffered an injury and completed 12 of 33 pass attempts for 214 yards and three touchdowns, including a touchdown pass with less than two minutes left put the Cardinal ahead in a 27–24 upset victory.[8] He started the next three games while Fasani recovered from his injury. Lewis finished the season with 1,179 passing yards on 92-for-204 passing with eight touchdown passes and five interceptions.[9]

Lewis began his redshirt sophomore season as the second string quarterback again, but ultimately started four games and passed for 1,277 yards with 12 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.[9] He entered the Cardinal's game against fifth-ranked Oregon late in the second quarter following an injury to Fasani and completed 12 of 26 passes for 189 and two touchdowns in a comeback 49–42 victory.[10] Lewis passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns as Stanford won 38–28 over fourth-ranked UCLA.[11] Lewis was named Stanford's starting quarterback going into his redshirt junior year. He missed the season opener after being suspended for a minor NCAA infraction.[12] Lewis started the next five games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.[13]

Lewis ultimately lost his starting job during the offseason to Trent Edwards.[14] He returned to the starting lineup after Edwards suffered a shoulder injury and started seven games during his redshirt senior season.[15] Lewis finished his collegiate career with 19 starts and 30 total games played, completing 350 of 713 pass attempts for 4,346 yards with 33 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions.[16]

Professional career

Lewis was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals on June 7, 2004. He was released at the end of training camp and spent time during the regular season on the Cardinals' practice squad.[17] In 2005, the Cardinals allocated Lewis to the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe.[18] He played in nine games for Cologne and passed for 412 yards. Lewis was released by the Cardinals on June 24, 2005.[17] Lewis was a member of the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League in 2006.[19]

References

  1. ^ "TONIGHT: Chris Lewis To Speak To Century Club". Press-Telegram. December 21, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Keisser, Bob (July 11, 2009). "Keisser: Lewis is simply in a league of his own". The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "Long Beach Poly's Lewis Honored". Los Angeles Times. December 24, 1998. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  4. ^ Guiremand, Steve (January 28, 1999). "BIOS of the SUN'S Super 11". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Burton, Bobby (November 16, 1998). "National Signing Day approaches for players". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  6. ^ "Making the Grade". Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2002. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Smith, Shelley (November 2, 2001). "Lewis showing cool under fire". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: It's a Texas BBQ as Lewis leads Stanford". Palo Alto Weekly. September 20, 2000. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Chris Lewis College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  10. ^ "CLOSE-OUT SPECIALIST". Los Angeles Times. October 23, 2001. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  11. ^ "Lewis leads Stanford past UCLA". Deseret News. October 28, 2001. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  12. ^ "Roundup: Lewis suspended for Stanford's season opener". Houston Chronicle. September 4, 2002. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Stanford hopes to come full circle with Lewis". San Francisco Chronicle. October 22, 2003. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  14. ^ Curtis, Jake (September 20, 2003). "Back where he started: Stanford's Lewis accepts role as reserve QB". Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "The career of Chris Lewis comes full circle again". Palo Alto Weekly. October 24, 2003. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Oben should step into Chargers' starting lineup". ESPN.com. June 9, 2004. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Cardinals release QB Lewis, CB Sanders". Patriots.com. June 24, 2005. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  18. ^ "Lewis calling a new play". Los Angeles Daily News. March 13, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  19. ^ "Local roundup". Stockton Record. October 12, 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2022.