Florida Atlantic University appears to be keeping any interest in Ray Lewis as a potential head football coach under wraps. On Wednesday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Lewis had emerged as a contender for the FAU position following the firing of head coach Tom Herman. However, shortly after this report, others began to refute the claim.
Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger cited insiders involved in the FAU search, indicating that the prospect of Lewis taking over the Owls’ program is “not happening.” Adding to that, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports stated there has been no direct contact between FAU officials and Lewis, branding the likelihood of him securing the role as “highly unlikely.” This situation places Schefter, a well-respected figure in sports reporting, in a rare position where his information conflicts with other reports.
The situation is further complicated by Ray Lewis’s complicated legacy as an NFL icon and Hall of Famer. On the field, he is celebrated as one of the greatest linebackers of all time, but his reputation is also marred by his involvement in a 2000 murder trial in Atlanta, where he faced initial charges relating to the deaths of two men. Those charges were eventually dropped in exchange for a guilty plea to a lesser charge of obstruction of justice.
It’s possible FAU might have expressed some degree of interest in Lewis; however, due to his contentious history, the school could be reluctant to make that information public. Alternatively, Lewis’s name may have simply come up in speculative conversations without any substantial momentum behind it. Regardless, all indications seem to suggest that Lewis is likely to remain on the periphery of the coaching conversation.
For the time being, it appears that FAU’s next step will involve a more subdued approach—one that avoids the attention and scrutiny that would accompany a decision to hire Ray Lewis.
Image Source: Ray Lewis @ Instagram
