OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ray Lewis spent 17 seasons instilling fear in opponents while serving as an inspirational leader for the Baltimore Ravens.

Now he’s eager to become a full-time dad.

Lewis, 37, a 13-time All-pro selection and one-time Super Bowl winner, announced Wednesday he will end an NFL career after the Ravens complete their 2013 playoff run.

Lewis, who has been sidelined since Oct. 14 with a torn right triceps, intends to return Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts in what will almost certainly be his final home game.

“Everything that starts has an end,” Lewis said. “For me, today, I told my team that this will be my last ride.”

Lewis will walk away fromthe game because he wants to spend more time with his sons. Lewis got to spend time watching two of his boys play on the same high school football team in Florida during his rehab from his triceps injury. He intends to see Ray Lewis III perform as a freshman next year for the University of Miami, where the elder Lewis starred before the Ravens selected him in the first round of the 1996 draft.

“God is calling,” Lewis said. “My children have made the ultimate sacrifice for their father for 17 years. I don’t want to see them do that no more. I’ve done what I wanted to do in this business, and now it’s my turn to give them something back.”

That’s why Lewis will pull off his No. 52 uniform for the last time after the Ravens lose or claim their second Super Bowl title.

“It’s either [that or] hold onto the game and keep playing and let my kids miss out on times we can be spending together,” Lewis said. “I always promised my son if he got a full ride on scholarship Daddy is going to be there, I can’t miss that.”

Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press in 2000, the same season he was voted Super Bowl MVP following Baltimore’s 34-7 rout of the New York Giants. Lewis also was Defensive Player of the Year in 2003, and is the only player in NFL history with atleast 40 career sacks and 30 interceptions.

“I never played the game for individual stats,” Lewis said. “I only played the game to make my team a better team.”

Lewis has been with the Ravens since they moved from Cleveland. Lewis became a fixture at middle linebacker and a beloved figure in Baltimore after being drafted 26th overall in Baltimore’s first draft. He remained that way even after his alleged involvement in a double-murder in Atlanta in early 2000.

In June of that year, a judge approved a deal allowing Lewis to avoid murder charges and jail time by pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and testifying against two co-defendants. Within a year, Lewiswas in the Super Bowl, leading the Ravens to their only NFL championship.

Now he’s ready to call it a career.

“I’ll make this last run with this team, and I’ll give them everything I’ve got,” he said. “When it ends, it ends, but Ididn’t come back for it to end in the first round.”

News of his decision to retire resounded throughout the NFL.

“I thought, shoot, the guy could play forever and would play forever,” said Colts Coach Chuck Pagano, who served as Lewis’ defensive coordinator last year. “Great person, great man, great player, just an unbelievable human being. What he’s done for that organization, that city and, for that matter, so many people, he’s obviously a first-ballot Hall of Famer and will be sorely missed.”

Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy said he hasn’t seen a defensive player during his time in the NFL who has made a bigger impact on a team.

“He’s really an incredible example of leader,” McCarthy said. “Talk about somebody opening up his chest and giving it to his football team.”

Lewis was respected by peers, too, even those who were on the receiving end of his crushing tackles.

“He definitely inspired me, just the passion and how he is dedicated to his craft to be the best,” Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson said. “You don’t see too many guys who play like that. That’s definitely what makes him the best linebacker to ever play the game.”

Sports, Pages 15 on 01/03/2013