Jacksonville Jaguars Lewis was selected by the
Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round (28th overall) of the
2006 NFL draft. He played college football at UCLA with running back
Maurice Jones-Drew, who was also selected on the first day by the Jaguars. In July 2006, Lewis signed a five-year, $7.5 million contract with $4.9 million guaranteed. Lewis made his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 2006 season against the
Pittsburgh Steelers in a 9–0 victory. He scored his first professional touchdown on a one-yard reception from
David Garrard in Week 12 against the
Buffalo Bills. Lewis finished his rookie season with 13 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown in 15 games and three starts. Lewis' role expanded in the 2007 season with 37 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns. He started all 16 games in his second year. In 2008, Lewis started all 16 games once again and recorded 41 receptions for 489 yards and two touchdowns, which came in consecutive games in Week 5 and Week 6. In the 2009 season, Lewis started all 16 games and recorded 32 receptions for 518 yards and two touchdowns. In the 2010 season, Lewis matched the Jaguars single-season touchdown receptions record with a total of 10 and was selected to his first
Pro Bowl. He had previously been named as an alternate for the 2009 Pro Bowl. He started all 16 games and had three games with multiple receiving touchdowns. Due in part to the
2011 NFL lockout, the Jaguars placed the
franchise tag on Lewis on February 24, 2011. On August 5, 2011, after a short training camp hold out, Lewis signed a five-year contract reportedly worth about $35 million ($17 million guaranteed). In the 2011 season, he started in and appeared in 15 games and totaled 39 receptions for 460 receiving yards. For the first time in his professional career, he did not have a touchdown. In the final game of the 2012 regular season against the
Tennessee Titans, Lewis had seven receptions for 103 receiving yards for his first game going over the 100-yard mark. He totaled 52 receptions for 540 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns on the season. In the 2013 season, he totaled 25 receptions for 359 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 11 games. The four receiving touchdowns all came in four consecutive games from Week 13 to Week 16. In the 2014 season, he totaled 18 receptions for 206 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Lewis continued his constant production in the 2015 season with 16 receptions for 226 receiving yards in 16 games, all starts. On March 9, 2016, Lewis re-signed a three-year, $12 million contract to remain with the Jaguars. He was placed on
injured reserve on November 21, 2016, after suffering a calf injury in Week 11 against the
Detroit Lions. He totaled 20 receptions for 169 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in ten starting appearances. In Week 3 of the 2017 season, he recorded four receptions for 62 receiving yards and a career-high three receiving touchdowns in a 44–7 victory over the
Baltimore Ravens. He finished with 24 receptions for 318 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in 16 starts. In the
AFC Championship loss to the
New England Patriots, Lewis recorded his first postseason touchdown on a four-yard reception from
Blake Bortles. On March 20, 2018, Lewis was released by the Jaguars after 12 seasons with the team.
Green Bay Packers On May 24, 2018, the
Green Bay Packers signed Lewis to a one-year, $2.1 million contract that included a $500,000 signing bonus. Lewis caught his first pass as a Packer on November 4, 2018, during a Week 9 loss to the Patriots. He finished the 2018 season with three catches for 39 yards. On March 18, 2019, Lewis re-signed with the Packers on a one-year, $2.1 million contract. Lewis caught his first touchdown as a Packer, a one-yard reception from
Aaron Rodgers, on December 1, 2019, during a Week 13 victory over the
New York Giants. He finished the 2019 season with 15 receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown. The Packers advanced to the playoffs as the #2-seed in the NFC, losing in the
NFC Championship Game to the
San Francisco 49ers. On March 24, 2020, Lewis re-signed with the Packers on a one-year contract. Lewis started 15 games, catching 10 passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns. The Packers advanced to the playoffs as the #1-seed in the NFC, but again lost in the
NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On March 30, 2021, Packers re-signed Lewis to a two-year, $8 million contract. During a narrow Week 15 31–30 victory against the Ravens, Lewis surpassed 5,000 career receiving yards. He started all 17 games in the 2021 season and finished with 23 receptions for 214 yards. The Packers again clinched home-field advantage as the NFC's top seed for the 2021 playoffs. However, they lost to the 49ers in the
Divisional Round 13–10. In the 2022 season, Lewis started all 17 games for the Packers. He had six receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Chicago Bears On August 4, 2023, Lewis signed a one-year deal with the
Chicago Bears. He played in all 17 games with four starts primarily as a blocker, but did have a one-yard touchdown catch in a 27–16 victory over the Cardinals. Lewis initially entered free agency but re-signed with the Bears on a one-year contract on June 10, 2024. When he appeared in the Week 4 game against the
Los Angeles Rams, Lewis broke a tie with
Jason Witten for the most career games played by a tight end with 272. In the 2024 season, Lewis appeared in 17 games and started five.
Denver Broncos On October 29, 2025, Lewis signed with the
Denver Broncos' practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for Week 9 against the
Houston Texans, making Lewis the oldest tight end to ever play in an NFL game as well as the oldest player in Broncos history. On December 6, Lewis was promoted to the active roster. Five days later, he was waived by the Broncos and re-signed to the practice squad. On December 25, Lewis was promoted to the active roster again. On January 5, 2026, he was waived again and then re-signed to the practice squad. ==Personal life==