Longtime successful NFL assistant dies at 83
Sherman Lewis was a four-time Super Bowl winner as an assistant coach and a longtime successful NFL OC. He had a brief stint in Washington, too.
When Washington Commanders ' fans hear the name of Sherman Lewis, most will only remember him for his brief tenure calling plays for the Redskins during the ill-fated 2009 season. However, Lewis was much more than that, serving as the offensive coordinator for the Packers, Vikings and Lions , and winning four Super Bowls as an assistant coach. Lewis died on Friday.
He was 83. A former All-American running back at Michigan State, Lewis finished third in the race for the Heisman Trophy in 1963. Lewis played two years in the NFL for the New York Jets and also played two seasons in the Canadian Football League before beginning his coaching career in 1969.
Lewis spent 14 years at his alma mater as an assistant coach before moving to the NFL as the running backs coach for Bill Walsh and the San Francisco 49ers in 1983. After nine seasons with the 49ers, Lewis followed Mike Holmgren to the Packers in 1992 as his offensive coordinator. Lewis served in that role for eight seasons until moving to the Minnesota Vikings in 2000.
After two years in charge of Minnesota's offense, Lewis then moved to Detroit, where he led the Lions' offense for two seasons. Rest in Peace, Sherm Lewis 🕯️ Three-time Super Bowl champion running backs coach of the #49ers ' 1980s dynasty Offensive coordinator of the 1990s #Packers renaissance — Super Bowl XXXI champion Later OC for the Vikings and Lions pic. twitter.