Ray Lewis will retire after Super Bowl
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BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens takes the field during player introductions against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 20: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 20, 1998 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Ravens 24-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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Ray Lewis during Super Bowl XXXV - Postgame at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis dances during pre-game introductions October 4, 2004 on Monday Night Football at Baltimore, Maryland. The 0 - 3 Chiefs defeated the Ravens 27 - 24. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - NOVEMBER 21: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before facing the Dallas Cowboys during the game at M&T Bank Stadium on November 21, 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Cowboys 30-10. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 11: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens gets ready before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium on September 11, 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Colts defeated the Ravens 24-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 11: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles Edgerrin James #32 of the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium on September 11, 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Colts defeated the Ravens 24-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 2: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens walks along the sideline during the game against the New York Jets on October 2, 2005 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
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Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis pumps up his team versus San Diego at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, October 1, 2006. The Ravens won 16-13. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - OCTOBER 15: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens enters the stadium before a game against the Carolina Panthers at M&T Bank Stadium on October 15, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Panthers defeated the Ravens 23-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 30: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 30, 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 13-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 13: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts to the crowd while being introduced before a game against the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Divisional playoff game on January 13, 2007 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Colts won 15-6. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - AUGUST 13: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens waits to get into the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on August 13, 2007 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 16: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens fires up his teammates against the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 20-13. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 07: Inside linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a defensive stop against the San Francisco 49ers at Monster Park on October 7, 2007 in San Francisco, California. Baltimore won the game 9-7. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)
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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 25: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on from the sideline against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL Game at Qualcomm Stadium November 25, 2007 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 21: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a defensive stop against the Cleveland Browns September 21, 2008 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 28: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates recovering the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the game on December 28, 2008 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after he dropped a potenial interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 10: Wide receiver Justin Gage #12 of the Tennessee Titans looks to avoid a tackle by Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 10, 2009 at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 16: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a defensive stop in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 16, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 28: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens is introduced before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at M&T Bank Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Buccaneers 17-10. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 13: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens talks to LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets after defeating the New York Jets in their home opener at the New Meadowlands Stadium on September 13, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates as he walks off of the field after their 33-14 win against the New England Patriots during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is hit as he throws the ball by Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE - OCTOBER 30: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens is introduced before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at M&T Bank Stadium on October 30. 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Cardinals 30-27. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Linebackers Ray Lewis #52 and Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrate a play during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 6: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens talks to a teammate on the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 6, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 23-20. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens is introduced before playing against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
On Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, Ray Lewis announced he will retire after 17 seasons to spend more time with his sons. On Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, Lewis helped lead the Ravens to a win over the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. The fearsome 13-time Pro Bowl linebacker symbolizes the NFL – not just the Ravens, says Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole, and is well known for his explosive personality.