Sherman Lewis Dies at 83, Four-Time Super Bowl Winning NFL Assistant

Sherman Lewis, a revered NFL assistant coach who won four Super Bowl championships and was a star player at Michigan State University, has died. He was 83. Michigan State confirmed his passing on Friday.

Lewis built a legendary coaching career spanning more than two decades in the NFL, primarily as an offensive coordinator and running backs coach. He was first hired by Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh to join the San Francisco 49ers staff in 1983. Over nine seasons with the 49ers, Lewis helped shape the team's dynasty, contributing to Super Bowl victories following the 1984, 1988, and 1989 seasons.

In 1992, he followed head coach Mike Holmgren to the Green Bay Packers, serving as offensive coordinator for eight seasons and earning a fourth Super Bowl ring after the 1996 season. Holmgren once described Lewis as the best-kept secret in football. Lewis later served as offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, concluding his NFL coaching tenure as an offensive assistant in Washington in 2009.

Despite his decorated resume and endorsements from respected figures like Holmgren and Walsh, Lewis never secured a head coaching position in the NFL. He...