I’m the Beer Man who drove a Budweiser truck until 29 before realizing my NFL dream with hometown team
From beer man to leading man. The story of Michael Lewis is a remarkable one as he went from truck driving for Budweiser at 25 to NFL All-Pro at 31 Michael Lewis spent seven years in the NFLGetty Lewis was born in New Orleans and, like most kids his age, he grew up dreaming of playing professional football. Although by his senior year in high school, that dream seemed dead. Lewis had only played for one season and by the time he graduated, he had become a father. He decided to focus on supporting his newborn child rather than pursuing football or going to college. To make ends meet, he landed a job as a Budweiser truck driver, working 12-hour shifts delivering kegs of beer to bars and house parties. His truck route was a half a mile away from the Saints’ Superdome, and he would see the arena, where he would one day play, every time he clocked in and out. Away from his job, Lewis was still desperate to play football, so he participated in amateur flag leagues. At 26, got a small break with an opportunity to play for the Louisiana Bayou Beast — an upstart team in the Professional Indoor Football League. After successful tryouts, he went on to become one of the best players in the entire format. In their first game, the Bayou Beast won by a score of 36–28 in front of a crowd of just 4,283 people. The New Orleans Saints took a chance on LewisGetty And after a strong season, he was named to the 1998 PIFL All-Star First-team, helping lead the Beast to a 13-1 record and a league championship title. After two years in the PIFL and 23 touchdowns in 24 games, he got a promotion. In 1999, Lewis joined the Arena Football League with the New Jersey Red Dogs. His salary increased from $200 to $900 per game, however, it wasn’t enough to give up his day job while supporting a family. So Lewis kept driving trucks as he clung to his dream of playing professional football. Between playing games, practicing, and working shifts delivering beer, Lewis sent his highlight tape to every team he could find. NFL's Greatest...... Ranking the top 10...... Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady? Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top? Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barrie Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmett Smith and more Tight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare? After another successful season, in which he was named to the 2000 AFL All-Rookie Team, he got the break he was looking for. An offer to try out for the Philadelphia Eagles, he would later go on to play their first pre-season game. However, that fairytale proved to be short-lived as they cut him after 37 days, meaning Lewis returned to his job as a truck driver in New Orleans. “If I don’t play another game, I lived my dream,” Lewis said at the time. “I played the one NFL game, I’m satisfied.” Although the NFL dream wasn’t over as in November 2000, the Saints GM at the time, Randy Mueller, caught wind of Lewis. He was impressed by his accomplishments in indoor football and tryout with the Eagles. Lewis’ life would change forever at 29Getty At the tail end of the regular season, the Saints signed Lewis to their practice squad. For the remainder of that campaign, the Saints sent him overseas to play for their NFL Europe affiliate, the Rhine Fire. After he returned to the Saints for their 2001 pre-season, Lewis impressed everyone with his performances. He averaged 28.5 yards per kick return while showcasing his blazing 4.3 speed. “He’s certainly not just another training camp guy,” said receivers coach Hubbard Alexander at the time. Lewis made the final 53-man roster for that year as a return specialist, and his first payday was $20,000 — a long way from his hourly rate as a truck driver. Lewis entered the NFL as a 29-year-old rookie, almost eight years older than many of his fellow debutants. After playing eight games as a rookie, Lewis became a star in 2002. In his age-31 season, he set an NFL record for combined kick-punt return yardage with 2,432 yards total, leading the league in punt return yards, kick return yards, and all-purpose yards. He was named a first-team All-Pro and Special Teams Player of the Year, earning the nickname ‘Beer Man.’ After a seven-year career in the NFl, Lewis still holds the Saints’ all-time record for punt return yardage (1,482 yards) and was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame in 2015. From driving trucks at 29 to capturing the hearts of your fellow New Orleanians by the age of 35, that’s a career arc to be proud of. When he was released in 2007, the Times-Picayune newspaper’s headline was ‘There’s a Tear in My Beer.’ Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and sub
From beer man to leading man.
The story of Michael Lewis is a remarkable one as he went from truck driving for Budweiser at 25 to NFL All-Pro at 31
Lewis was born in New Orleans and, like most kids his age, he grew up dreaming of playing professional football.
Although by his senior year in high school, that dream seemed dead.
Lewis had only played for one season and by the time he graduated, he had become a father.
He decided to focus on supporting his newborn child rather than pursuing football or going to college.
To make ends meet, he landed a job as a Budweiser truck driver, working 12-hour shifts delivering kegs of beer to bars and house parties.
His truck route was a half a mile away from the Saints’ Superdome, and he would see the arena, where he would one day play, every time he clocked in and out.
Away from his job, Lewis was still desperate to play football, so he participated in amateur flag leagues.
At 26, got a small break with an opportunity to play for the Louisiana Bayou Beast — an upstart team in the Professional Indoor Football League.
After successful tryouts, he went on to become one of the best players in the entire format.
In their first game, the Bayou Beast won by a score of 36–28 in front of a crowd of just 4,283 people.
And after a strong season, he was named to the 1998 PIFL All-Star First-team, helping lead the Beast to a 13-1 record and a league championship title.
After two years in the PIFL and 23 touchdowns in 24 games, he got a promotion.
In 1999, Lewis joined the Arena Football League with the New Jersey Red Dogs.
His salary increased from $200 to $900 per game, however, it wasn’t enough to give up his day job while supporting a family.
So Lewis kept driving trucks as he clung to his dream of playing professional football.
Between playing games, practicing, and working shifts delivering beer, Lewis sent his highlight tape to every team he could find.
NFL's Greatest......
Ranking the top 10......
Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?
Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?
Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barrie Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmett Smith and more
Tight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?
After another successful season, in which he was named to the 2000 AFL All-Rookie Team, he got the break he was looking for.
An offer to try out for the Philadelphia Eagles, he would later go on to play their first pre-season game.
However, that fairytale proved to be short-lived as they cut him after 37 days, meaning Lewis returned to his job as a truck driver in New Orleans.
“If I don’t play another game, I lived my dream,” Lewis said at the time. “I played the one NFL game, I’m satisfied.”
Although the NFL dream wasn’t over as in November 2000, the Saints GM at the time, Randy Mueller, caught wind of Lewis.
He was impressed by his accomplishments in indoor football and tryout with the Eagles.
At the tail end of the regular season, the Saints signed Lewis to their practice squad.
For the remainder of that campaign, the Saints sent him overseas to play for their NFL Europe affiliate, the Rhine Fire.
After he returned to the Saints for their 2001 pre-season, Lewis impressed everyone with his performances.
He averaged 28.5 yards per kick return while showcasing his blazing 4.3 speed.
“He’s certainly not just another training camp guy,” said receivers coach Hubbard Alexander at the time.
Lewis made the final 53-man roster for that year as a return specialist, and his first payday was $20,000 — a long way from his hourly rate as a truck driver.
Lewis entered the NFL as a 29-year-old rookie, almost eight years older than many of his fellow debutants.
After playing eight games as a rookie, Lewis became a star in 2002.
In his age-31 season, he set an NFL record for combined kick-punt return yardage with 2,432 yards total, leading the league in punt return yards, kick return yards, and all-purpose yards.
He was named a first-team All-Pro and Special Teams Player of the Year, earning the nickname ‘Beer Man.’
After a seven-year career in the NFl, Lewis still holds the Saints’ all-time record for punt return yardage (1,482 yards) and was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame in 2015.
From driving trucks at 29 to capturing the hearts of your fellow New Orleanians by the age of 35, that’s a career arc to be proud of.
When he was released in 2007, the Times-Picayune newspaper’s headline was ‘There’s a Tear in My Beer.’
Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, view and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft in April
