Hall of Fame middle linebacker Ray Lewis will prove whether he has more moves than his signature pregame dance.
Lewis will be among the 12 celebrities competing on the 28th season of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars,” it was announced Wednesday. The only other professional athlete on this season’s show is Lamar Odom, a two-time NBA champion.
.@raylewis is putting his cleats down and his dancing shoes on for @DancingABC!#DWTS#DancingOnGMAhttps://t.co/iiWtUzxXl2 pic.twitter.com/6q0DnjerAR
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 21, 2019
Throughout his 17-year career, Lewis was known for coming out of tunnel during player introductions and performing his squirrel dance, a five-second gyration to Nelly’s song “Hot In Herre” that often ignited fans, teammates and even opposing players into a frenzy.
Lewis, 44, won two Super Bowls with the Baltimore Ravens and reached the Pro Bowl 13 times.
“Dad, please don’t embarrass me,” Lewis said his daughter told him.
Odom, whose career and life unraveled due to drug addiction, was one of four former NBA players “deactivated” by the Big3 last month. The 39-year-old last played in the NBA for the LA Clippers during the 2012-13 season. He was hospitalized after being found unresponsive at a Las Vegas brothel following a drug overdose in 2015.
According to Odom, he had six strokes and 12 heart attacks while he was in a coma following the overdose.
Former NFL players have been successful on the program. Past winners include: Emmitt Smith, Hines Ward, Rashad Jennings and Donald Driver. Jacoby Jones, one of Lewis’ former Ravens teammates, finished third in 2013.
Others competing against Lewis on this year’s “Dancing With The Stars” Include supermodel Christie Brinkley, actor James Van Der Beek (from Dawson’s Creek fame) and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer.
The show debuts on Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. ET.