| Born: | July 28, 1947 Aumsville, Oregon |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| College | Oregon State |
| NFL draft | 1970 / Round: 13 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1970 | Houston Oilers |
| Honors | 1967 All-American Oregon Sports Hall of Fame (1981) |
Jess Lewis (born July 28, 1947 in Aumsville, Oregon) is a retired amateur wrestler and American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers in 1970. He graduated from Cascade High School in Turner, Oregon.
Lewis was an accomplished wrestler for Oregon State, becoming a three-time conference champion (1968–1970), three-time All-American (1968–1970), and a two-time NCAA champion (1969, 1970) in the heavyweight division. He went on to compete in the 1968 World University Games and the 1968 Summer Olympics as a wrestler for the United States.[1]
Lewis also played college football at Oregon State University where he earned All-American honors as a football player in 1967, and was a two-time All-Pac-8 Conference selection as a defensive tackle. He was selected as the team MVP in 1969.[2]
Upon graduating from Oregon State, Lewis was drafted in the 13th round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. The Oilers moved him to linebacker upon drafting him. Lewis played one season in the NFL.