Ray Lewis to retire from NFL after Ravens season: 'This will be my last ride'

Ray Lewis will retire from the NFL after the Ravens' season. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis announced on Wednesday that he will retire from the NFL after the Ravens finish their season, according to multiple reports including tweets from the team's Twitter page, J. Michael of CSN Baltimore and Baltimore Sports Radio WNST.

Lewis said to reporters on Wednesday afternoon that ever since he went out with what was initially diagnosed as a season-ending injury in October, he's had the chance to be a father again and the opportunity to spend more time with his kids is what convinced him to retire after the season. Lewis has been out since Oct. 14 with a torn triceps but is set to make his return Jan. 6 in Baltimore against the Indianapolis Colts.

If Lewis sticks to his word, he will retire with a number of accolades, including: Super Bowl XXXV Champion and Super Bowl XXXV MVP, 13 appearances in the Pro Bowl, two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year and three-time AFC Defensive Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft.

https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/286520374416527360

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https://twitter.com/JMichaelCSN/status/286519118377664514

https://twitter.com/WNST/status/286523332520706048