Longtime successful NFL assistant dies at 83

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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.

Lewis’ coaching career appeared over after the 2004 season. However, during Jim Zorn’s second season as Washington’s head coach in 2009, owner Daniel Snyder hired Lewis as an offensive consultant. Shortly after hiring him, Snyder and then vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato essentially stripped Zorn of his playcalling duties, with Lewis to take over. It was unfair to all parties, including Lewis.

When the Redskins called Lewis, he was reportedly enjoying retirement, delivering Meals on Wheels and calling bingo games at a retirement home. Washington finished 4-12 that season and Zorn and Cerrato were gone by the end of the season.

Lewis never coached again.

Sadly, Lewis never had the chance to be a head coach, despite all of his success as a running backs coach and offensive coordinator. Holmgren often advocated for Lewis. So did the legendary Walsh.

In 2015, Lewis reflected on his coaching career. He was not bitter.

“We won Super Bowls in San Francisco and one in Green Bay,” Lewis said via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2015. “And I got to work with some great coaches and players. No question, I wished I had the chance to be a head coach. But looking back, I did all I could. I was disappointed, but I’m not going to hang my hat on that. I had a great career and was fortunate to coach in the NFL.”

Lewis absolutely deserved the chance to be a head coach. His coaching career should not be remembered for his time in Washington. That year was symbolic of Washington’s entire tenure under Snyder’s ownership until he eventually sold the team in 2023. The legendary Rick Snider once summarized everything that went down during that season.

Lewis mentored many NFL greats, including Brett Favre, during his longtime NFL coaching career. In 2023, Lewis was the recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Former NFL assistant Sherman Lewis dies at 83

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