Tom Brady is arguably one of the greatest NFL players of all time, but did you know there was a player who even the 7x Super Bowl champion was intimidated by?

Fitness influencer and YouTuber Jesse James West had the privilege to spend the day with former NFL quarterback and learn all about his fitness regimen. During their time together, West asked Brady who the one player was that he was most concerned about facing. And Brady named Baltimore Ravens' linebacker, Ray Lewis.

“He was a pain in my a** because not only was he physically so gifted, talk about like the all day juice he would bring, he would inspire all his teammates to be just like him," Brady recalled, who faced Lewis eight times during his career.

Ray Lewis is one of the best linebackers in the NFL and the pride of the Baltimore Ravens. The legendary defensive player was famous for his tackling and strategic mind as well as for his leadership skills.

Under his leadership, the Ravens won two Super Bowl championships. As Brady mentioned, Lewis was known for his ability to inspire his teammates and elevate the performance of the entire defense, leading to his opponents respecting him a lot.

According to Bleacher Report, three main factors helped Lewis play for 17 seasons:

Work Ethic

Ray Lewis was known for paying attention to detail in his preparation. He had a habit of spending hours going through the play tape of that week's opponent. Even during the off-season, he would only take two weeks off and would continue training with light workouts.

Training

Lewis would train for 8 to 10 hours a day, relying mostly on cardio, specifically running on the beach with a 45-pound weight vest. He also paid special attention to recovery and would sleep for 10 hours every night. After his 2011 toe injury, Lewis bought a hyperbaric chamber to increase oxygen flow. 

Diet

According to USA Today, he starts his day with a protein shake and eats two egg whites. The rest of the day is fish and vegetables. He also consumes 50 vitamins and supplements every day.

That was all about Ray Lewis. But there are four other players that Brady thinks gave him a hard time on the field

Four Players Who Gave Tom Brady a Run for His Money

West also asked Brady, ‘Who was the biggest NFL player he had to go against physically?’ Brady had four names ready. They were:

• Ndamukong Suh: The defensive tackle who played 13 seasons for teams like the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Rams, among others.
• Jevon Kearse: He played 11 seasons for the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.
• Benjamin Watson: He played 15 seasons and was even Brady's New England Patriots teammate.
• Tristan Wirfs: He played 6 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While talking about Wirfs' physique, Brady told West, “His calves were your quads,” which seemed to shock West.

Which plays involving Lewis and Brady are most often remembered from their on-field meetings? Share your thoughts.

Read more at Bodybuilding Bros.

Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar