Jermaine Lewis played WR at Maryland from 1992-’95.
Over his college time with the Terrapins, he amassed 193 receptions for 2932 yards and 21 TDs.
Saw a little bit of time in college as a return man with 22 kr for 529 yards, and 24 pr for 288 yards and 2 TDs.
Drafted in the 5th round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Clocking in at 5’7″, 183 Lewis became well known as an electrifying punt return man.
In 1997, he had 28 punt returns for 437 yards and 2 TDs.
His 15.6 yards per return led the NFL.
He also had a total of 2025 All-Purpose Yards.
In 1998 he had 32 returns for 405 yards and 2 TDs.
He led the NFL in returns in ’99, posting 57 for 452.
During 2000 he had 36 returns for 578 yards and 2 TDs.
His 16.1 yards per punt return led the NFL.
Then he clocked a league leading 42 returns for a league leading 519 yards, and a total of 1,623 All-Purpose Yards in 2001.
Left exposed in the 2002 Houston Texans Expansion Draft he was selected with their 6th pick.
The Texans also used him primarily as a return man.
After a season in H-Town, Jermaine finished his career spending his final two seasons in Jacksonville.
He finished his career with 10,170 All-Purpose Yards and 6 punt return TDs.
ACCOLADES:
All-Pro 1998
Pro Bowl 1998, ’01
NOTES:
I was excited when the Texans selected Jermaine Lewis. The team and myself thought he could be an early electric and dynamic playmaker that Houston could use, but it didn’t work out that way.
I knew it. That promoter from 2021 was flat out lying to me.
All I had to do was wait around for an additional year and wow, there’s Jermaine Lewis doing another signing for the same price. Sent the card in. No questions asked. And boom- done.
Again if he’s still around: Don’t do business with IPO Sports Marketing.
He helped anchor down an impressive defense notching 3 sacks on the season, as the team won World Bowl II.
After the World League collapsed, Bill signed with the Sacramento Goldminers of the CFL that year.
This led him to the Atlanta Falcons during that same year in 1992.
Bill played with the Falcons through 1994.
In a preseason game against the Eagles, Bill tore his abductor muscle from his pelvis.
This caused him incredible pain while he searched for a proper diagnosis.
Ultimately he’d be cut by the Falcons, and then later picked up by the new expansion franchise, the Carolina Panthers.
And… he’d be the first player cut by the Panthers.
In the meantime, during his rehab, he’d met many wrestlers and was eventually convinced to try his hand at the sport.
He quickly ascended the ranks of WCW and made his debut as ‘Goldberg’ in 1997.
Won 173 straight wrestling matches.
When WCW was bought out by the WWE, Goldberg wrestled in Japan for two years before returning stateside to the WWE.
Took a break from wrestling, returning to the sport in 2015 during Legends of Wrestling.
Officially returned to WWE in 2016, retiring from the sport unofficially in 2022.
Rumors continue to swirl about his return to the sport.
Has appeared and been in numerous movies and TV shows.
Ultimate WL 1992 Team Checklist, #147
ACCOLADES:
WWE Hall of Fame
WWE Championship
WWE Universal Championship x2
WCW World Heavyweight Champion x2
WCW World Tag Team Champion
WcW United States World Heavyweight Champion x2
NOTES:
Bill is passionate about his charitable causes, notably Purple Heart services for wounded veterans. He also is Jewish- And while he’s extremely respectful of his religious upbringing, it’s something that’s just not talked about a lot.
So a few months ago when the XFL Brahmas opened up shop, some of my friends were invited to a special gathering for the team at the stadium. There they met many of the players and there was a special appearance by Bill Goldberg! (I had not realized he was still so passionate about the sport of Spring Football.)
When this event popped up in Boerne, I got that feeling that, maybe Bill would show up. Y’know a gut feeling. I told my friend who was going with me (Jeff) to not be surprised and to plan as if he might be attending. When we got to this really good taco joint, everything just seemed to line up. Jeff noted the autograph on the wall from Goldberg. Then I texted my friend Brandon, and he said, “Oh yeah, Goldberg will be there.” Just as we were about to step out, the man himself walked in.
Jeff nudged me and we played it cool. When we did speak to Goldberg, I talked to him about the World League and told him about how I probably walked by him at that last game when he was with the Surge, and they beat the Riders in the ‘Do or Die’ game. And while we lost, I left satisfied that next year might be the Riders’ year… <insert audible trail off>
He gave a chuckle and told me that it was a great time. That back then he was pretty close to the stadium since he was living in San Marcos… but that it was from SO LONG AGO. He then took this awesome photo with me.
Later right before he left I approached him one more time and thanked him for his time in the World League. And I’ll say this to any World League player I run into or get the autograph of: It meant so much to me that you guys were chasing your dreams. My father was not the greatest father, but he tried, and the way he got started was by taking me to those World League games. It really helped us bond. And I am forever grateful for every player who played in that league.
He told me that it meant to him more than I’d know- and that honestly meant to me, so, so much.
NFL
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
11
0.0
0
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
WL
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
N/a
3.0
0
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
