Marcedes Lewis
Marcedes Lewis, nicknamed 'Big Dog', is an American professional football tight end born on May 19, 1984. Selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round (28th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft, he played for the franchise from 2006 until his release on March 20, 2018. Before joining the pros, Lewis was a consensus All-American at UCLA, where he set school records for tight ends with 1,571 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. His tenure in Jacksonville established him as a foundational player who started every game from his rookie season through 2016, evolving into a key leader before moving on to the Green Bay Packers.
- Role
- Tight End
- Affiliation
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2006–2018)
- Drafted
- 2006, 1st Round (28th overall)
- Status
- Released by Jacksonville in 2018
- Record_Held
- UCLA tight end all-time records for receptions (126), receiving yards (1,571), a
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Lewis's time in Jacksonville began with immediate impact. After signing a five-year, $7.5 million contract in July 2006, he made his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 9–0 victory. His role expanded rapidly; by his second year, he started all 16 games and recorded 37 receptions for 391 yards. The 2010 season was a career peak where he matched the Jaguars' single-season touchdown record with 10 catches in the end zone, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Even after the 2011 lockout forced him to sign a five-year, $35 million franchise deal following a brief holdout, Lewis maintained his durability. He started every game from 2007 through 2016, missing only one start in 2011 and sitting out the final weeks of 2016 due to a calf injury that placed him on injured reserve.
In Their Own Story
In Week 3 of the 2017 season, Lewis delivered a defining performance against the Baltimore Ravens. In a dominant 44–7 victory, he recorded four receptions for 62 yards and three receiving touchdowns, his career high in a single game. This explosion capped a resurgence after a quiet 2014 and 2015, proving he could still dominate at age 33. Earlier that year, in the AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots, Lewis scored his first postseason touchdown on a four-yard reception from Blake Bortles. Despite the heartbreak of the playoff exit, his consistency remained unmatched; he had started all 16 games for five consecutive seasons prior to 2017.
Reader's Guide
Drafted as the 28th overall pick in 2006, Lewis played college football with future Jaguars teammate Maurice Jones-Drew. His rookie stats included 13 receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown. By 2012, he recorded his first 100-yard game against the Tennessee Titans (7 catches, 103 yards). In the 2013 season, he scored four touchdowns in just four consecutive games from Week 13 to Week 16. His production dipped slightly in later years—18 receptions for 206 yards in 2014 and 16 receptions for 226 yards in 2015—but his presence remained vital.
Did You Know?
- Lewis holds the UCLA tight end all-time record with 1,571 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns.
- He won the John Mackey Award in 2005 as the top tight end in college football.
- In Week 3 of the 2017 season, Lewis recorded a career-high three receiving touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens.
- Lewis started all 16 games for five consecutive seasons (2007–2011) with the Jaguars.
- He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2022 class.
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