New Bears defensive back Cam Lewis talks with ChicagoBears.com about his former baseball career, his favorite memory of backup QB Case Keenum in Buffalo, his guilty pleasure song and much more.
What was your welcome to the NFL moment?
Playing against Derrick Henry in my first start. He got the best of me majority of the game, but I got him too, so I guess we could count that.
Who's been the toughest matchup of your career?
Personally, it's been Tyreek Hill, guarding him in the slot. I really haven't had a lot of 1-on-1 matchups with him because the scheme we were running at that time. When he was in Miami, we ran a lot of zone versus him. But just his ability to create separation, how fast he is, he's for sure tough.
Who's on your DB Mount Rushmore?
That's hard. I like Peanut, because of his ability to create turnovers. That's such a hard question.
So many great DBs. Aqib Talib, a guy that I've studied. And then Tyrann Mathieu.
What's your favorite football memory of all time?
My first NFL pick. It was just a couple days before Christmas (in 2024), and I promised my wife I'd get her one. It was against New England.
Who were your sports idols growing up?
Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter and Floyd Mayweather.
I heard you used to play baseball. Who would be your MLB comp in your baseball prime?
I think this is a stretch, but I'm gonna say it. Ichiro. He can hit home runs, but he's not really smacking it out of the park. He's getting some hits, getting on base. I feel like that's it, but I don't know.
What was the scouting report on you in baseball?
Lead-off hitter. He hits it in gaps. He's fast. He would steal bases. So I'm looking at singles or doubles, and I will steal third. I'm just trying to get in scoring position as fast as I can. So every time I got a single, I'm stealing. Every single time.
How often did you get caught?
Not a crazy amount, but enough to where I was, like, 'All right, I gotta chill out'. But that was always a big thing.
What's the first thing you think of when you hear Chicago?
Food and the Windy City.
Can we get you any recommendations for food?
Yes. Steakhouses and Italian. Those are two that I really like to eat. Maybe some soul food, and then you can do some Mexican, too.
You're a dad of three. What's your favorite dad activity?
So, the newborn, she's about to be two months. With the boys, I got these electric go-karts for them, and I have a go-kart myself. So we just do a whole bunch of donuts and ride around the street and stuff like that. So that's the best right now. And they like to play Madden and then Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch. So I like whooping up on them in that too.
If football didn't exist, what would be your dream job?
Probably a golfer.
Do you golf now?
I do golf. Now, am I the best? No. My handicap is 17. It's getting down. I'm breaking 100 every time I play, which is better than the average golfer, but I'm trying to get it down. I'm going to start taking a little bit more lessons. I'm YouTube taught.
We've got a lot of golfers on the team — Cole Kmet, Tory Taylor, Case Keenum…
Yeah, I was with Case in Buffalo for a year or two. I know he's really good too.
What's your favorite Case Keenum memory?
He did a video where he went undercover at the end of training camp after practice, put on a disguise and he was trying to get players to sign autographs as they were coming off the field. People didn't realize it was Case, and then he did Josh (Allen), and then he was like, 'Can I get your autograph?' Josh shoo'ed him away then Case went back, and Josh realized and was like, 'Man, get out of here.' It was funny.
What's a random fact about you that isn't on the internet?
I'm not that interesting, though. Oh, I played the drums when I was in elementary school until fifth grade.
Do you think you could still do it?
Probably. Have you ever seen the movie Drumline? I used to watch that religiously. I used to practice all that stuff.
What is your guilty pleasure song?
How Deep is Your Love.
