ATLANTA — Mike Lewis, a longtime Falcon in the 1970s and a leading member of the team's historic 1977 "Grits Blitz" defense, died this month at the age of 75.
A family member and the Falcons confirmed Lewis' passing. He will be remembered with a service this Thursday, September 19, at Zion Hill Baptist Church at 11 a.m.
Michael Henry Lewis Sr., was born July 14, 1949, in Houston, Texas and remembered in a message from family as a "beacon of strength and joy to all who knew him."
Lewis joined the Falcons as an undrafted player before the 1971 season after playing at two HBCUs, first Wiley College (now University) in Texas and then Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
In his second season he established himself as a starter for the Falcons, a role he'd occupy for the better part of a decade. He played 120 games for the Falcons across nine seasons, recording 25 sacks. He also played another 10 games in one season with the Green Bay Packers in his final year in the NFL.
He featured in a special part of Falcons lore -- starting all 14 games for the 1977 "Grits Blitz" defense, which set a record under the old 14-game season format for fewest points allowed in a season (129). No defense has come along to do better than that 9.2 points allowed per game rate since 1977.
Lewis recorded two sacks for the "Grits Blitz," and had his best season in the NFL at right defensive tackle by the "approximate value" statistic on Pro Football Reference.
You can see Lewis (No. 69) making a sack at the 14-second mark in the video below featuring the "Grits Blitz." You can also see him stripping the ball at 2:35.
Unfortunately, the Falcons had a terrible offense in 1977, and went only 7-7 -- meaning the "Grits Blitz" defense hasn't quite always gotten widespread recognition.
Lewis earned his place in team annals, nonetheless -- a 2011 Bleacher Report ranking of the Falcons' 50 greatest players had him at No. 21.
