Lewis Billups
Encyclopedia
Lewis Billups was a former American football
cornerback who played seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals
and Green Bay Packers
in the National Football League
, recording 9 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries. Billups was known to wear an opponent’s T-shirt the day of the game to stay focused.
Known as a tough corner who played with a chip on his shoulder, Billups was a defensive back who was very popular among teammates. Billups is often remembered for his critical dropped interception in Super Bowl XXIII
. In the beginning of the fourth quarter with the Bengals up 13-6 over the San Francisco 49ers
and the 49ers driving from the Bengals 10-yard line, quarterback Joe Montana
threw a pass towards Billups that he dropped in the end zone. On the next play, the 49ers scored a touchdown, tying the game at 13. Towards the games conclusion, Montana threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor to give San Francisco a 20-16 lead with 34 seconds left. The 49ers won the game 20-16.
When not playing football, Billups led a playboy life style, complete with the finest cars and an Orlando mansion. One of Billups closest of friends was Bengals wide receiver Tim McGee
who was picked alongside Billups in the 1986 draft.
his corvette convertible destroying over 50 meters of steel railing. Billups friend, Danny Green, who was seated next to him was killed on impact, but Billups was thrown from the car and was later found by highway patrol men attending to the scene. Billups was taken to the Orlando hospital where he died from his injuries. The details of Billups' exploits are prominently featured in the best-selling book, "Pros And Cons."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback who played seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
and Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, recording 9 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries. Billups was known to wear an opponent’s T-shirt the day of the game to stay focused.
Known as a tough corner who played with a chip on his shoulder, Billups was a defensive back who was very popular among teammates. Billups is often remembered for his critical dropped interception in Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1988 regular season. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held...
. In the beginning of the fourth quarter with the Bengals up 13-6 over the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and the 49ers driving from the Bengals 10-yard line, quarterback Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
threw a pass towards Billups that he dropped in the end zone. On the next play, the 49ers scored a touchdown, tying the game at 13. Towards the games conclusion, Montana threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor to give San Francisco a 20-16 lead with 34 seconds left. The 49ers won the game 20-16.
When not playing football, Billups led a playboy life style, complete with the finest cars and an Orlando mansion. One of Billups closest of friends was Bengals wide receiver Tim McGee
Tim McGee
Timothy Dwanye Hatchett McGee is a retired professional American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins from 1986 to 1994...
who was picked alongside Billups in the 1986 draft.
Post-NFL Career
At the end of his NFL career, Billups had a number of brushes with the law. He eventually served over a year in prison, gaining his release on April 4, 1994. Six days later, Billups died in a car crash when driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph he lost control on Interstate 4Interstate 4
Interstate 4 is a intrastate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida . It also has the Florida Department of Transportation designation of State Road 400, but only a small...
his corvette convertible destroying over 50 meters of steel railing. Billups friend, Danny Green, who was seated next to him was killed on impact, but Billups was thrown from the car and was later found by highway patrol men attending to the scene. Billups was taken to the Orlando hospital where he died from his injuries. The details of Billups' exploits are prominently featured in the best-selling book, "Pros And Cons."