Education
Lewis graduated from Grace King High School in Metairie, Louisiana in 1990.
Lewis graduated from Grace King High School in Metairie, Louisiana in 1990.
He was signed by the Louisiana Bayou Beast in 1998. He did not play college football. Early career In 2000, he was a former Budweiser beer truck driver (thus, the nickname "Beer Manitoba") who never went to college, and waded through the various semi-professional football leagues, pro indoor leagues, and the Arena Football League.
Philadelphia Eagles Finally, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason in 2000.
He was cut before the regular season began. New Orleans Saints Michael returned to his hometown to deliver beer locally.
But, at the end of the 2000 NFL regular season the New Orleans Saints gave him a chance by signing him. Then the Saints sent him over to play for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in 2001.
Lewis was the feature return specialist for the Saints from 2002 until September 19, 2005 during a game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, where he injured his Master of Comparative Laws and was put on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
He returned to playing for the Saints a year later on October 29, 2006 during a home game against the Baltimore Ravens. In 2002, Lewis set an NFL record for combined kick-punt return yardage with 2,432 yards total (1,807 kickoff, 625 punt). He is currently the Saints" all-time career leader in punt returns (142) and punt return yardage (1,482).
In April 2006 Lewis returned to the Saints for a shot at one last season after rehabilitating from his knee injury.
On June 15, 2007 the Saints released him. The local New Orleans newspaper, the Times-Picayune, titled the news, "There"s a Tear in My Beer" because he was a local inspiration, going from beer truck driver to NFL star.
San Francisco 49ers On September 25, 2007, Lewis was signed by the San Francisco 49ers to take over punt return duties. The incumbent punt returner, Brandon Williams, was released.
New Orleans VooDoo Lewis signed a contract with the New Orleans VooDoo on October 10, 2008.
Team officials were preparing to make the announcement the following week, but the owner (Tom Benson, also the owner of the New Orleans Saints) decided to terminate operations on October 13, 2008. Post-retirement Lewis subsequently took a position as a "Team Ambassador" for the Saints. In 2015 Lewis was selected for the Saints Hall of Fame.
Awards and honors.
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame (2015) 2011 American Football Association Semi Pro Hall of Fame 2004 NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 16) 2002 NFL Pro Bowl Associated Press First Team All-Pro 2002 NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 6) NFL Alumni Special Teams Player of the Year Sports Illustrated All-Pro College & Pro Football Newsweekly First Team All-Pro Pro Football Weekly All-NFL and All-NFC Football Digest First Team All-Pro The Sporting News All-Pro 2000 American Federation of Labor-Congress All-Rookie Team 1998 PIFL All-Star 1st Team.
Lewis has also been a member of the New Orleans Thunder, New Jersey Red Dogs, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.
