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The List: NFL linebackers who have come and gone since 1996

It’s been a long and winding road. Here are those who have fallen in Ray-Ray’s wake.

by Bill Hanstock
Patrick Smith
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Ray Lewis will retire after NFL playoffs end
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Bill Hanstock
Bill Hanstock is a writer, author and Emmy Award-winning producer. He began writing for SB Nation in 2011.

Ray Lewis announced on Wednesday that he will retire after the current postseason. Lewis was selected by the Baltimore Ravens as a linebacker in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. Here is a partial list of linebackers who have entered the league since 1996 and have since left the NFL or retired.

1996: John Mobley

1996: Tedi Bruschi

1996: Earl Holmes

1996: Kevin Hardy

1996: Doug Colman

1996: Scott Galyon

1996: Craig Sauer

1996: Keith McKenzie

1996: O.J. Brigance

1996: Don Davis

1996: Jeff Gooch

1996: Kevin Hardy

1997: Dwayne Rudd

1997: Jamie Sharper

1997: Derrick Rodgers

1997: Peter Boulware

1997: Reinard Wilson

1997: Twan Russell

1997: Keith Mitchell

1997: Mike Maslowski

1998: Anthony Simmons

1998: Brian Simmons

1998: Sam Cowart

1998: Greg Favors

1998: Ike Reese

1998: Nate Wayne

1999: Dat Nguyen

1999: Al Wilson

2000: Ian Gold

2002: Ryan Nece

2003: Cato June

2004: Sean Tufts

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