Report: Ray Lewis to FAU 'Not Happening' amid Rumors Linking NFL HOFer to CFB Job

Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis reportedly won't be getting back into the sport as a coach despite a report linking him to the FAU job.

Ross Dellinger of Yahoo Sports was told it's "not happening" after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Lewis "has emerged as a candidate" for the vacant head-coaching position at Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic fired Tom Herman on Monday amid a 2-8 start to the season, including an 0-6 record in conference play. Special teams coordinator Chad Lunsford will coach the team for the final two games of the 2024 campaign as the athletic department begins the search for a new head coach.

Schefter noted FAU was looking to follow the Deion Sanders model when he was hired by Colorado to turn around the program.

There are some key differences between where Sanders was when he was first hired by Colorado and Lewis right now.

Coach Prime had three years of head-coaching experience at Jackson State from 2020 to '22. He led an immediate turnaround with that program, guiding the Tigers to three straight winning seasons and back-to-back SWAC titles in his final two years.

Lewis has no previous coaching experience. He is a legendary figure, particularly in the state of Florida where he was born and played three seasons at the University of Miami from 1993 to '95.

After leaving the Hurricanes, Lewis was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 26 overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft. He had one of the best careers for a linebacker in league history, making the All-Pro first team seven times and winning Defensive Player of the Year twice in 17 seasons.

Herman went 6-16 in his two seasons at Florida Atlantic. The Owls have posted four consecutive losing seasons and haven't won more than five games in a year since going 11-3 under Lane Kiffin in 2019.