Sherman Lewis, a longtime NFL assistant coach who won four Super Bowl titles and was a standout player at Michigan State, has died. He was 83.
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Michigan State confirmed Lewis' death Friday.
Lewis built a decorated coaching career in the NFL, most notably as part of Bill Walsh's staff with the San Francisco 49ers. Serving as running backs coach for nine seasons, he helped the 49ers win three Super Bowl championships during the 1984, 1988 and 1989 seasons.
He later joined Mike Holmgren's staff with the Green Bay Packers, where he was offensive coordinator for eight seasons. The Packers won the Super Bowl following the 1996 season, giving Lewis a fourth championship.
Despite his success, Lewis was never hired as an NFL head coach, though he interviewed for multiple openings. His candidacy came before the league implemented the Rooney Rule in 2002, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching positions.
"We won Super Bowls in San Francisco and one in Green Bay," Lewis told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2015. "I got to work with some great coaches and players."
Lewis later served as offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, and finished his NFL career as an assistant with the Washington Commanders in 2009.
Before coaching, Lewis was an accomplished player at Michigan State. He rushed for 1,566 yards and 16 touchdowns and earned first-team All-American honors in 1963, finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting behind Roger Staubach and Billy Lothridge.
He also excelled in track and field, winning Big Ten titles in the long jump and 300-yard dash. Lewis went on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League and the AFL before beginning a coaching career that included 14 years at his alma mater.
He was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
