Jaylon Ferguson cause of death: Baltimore Ravens star died from accidental fentanyl and cocaine overdose, autopsy says
BALTIMORE Ravens star Jaylon Ferguson died from accidental fentanyl and cocaine overdose, an autopsy revealed. The report comes a week after police discovered the 26-year-old’s lifeless body in a North Baltimore home. At the time, police had called Ferguson’s death “questionable” and said officers found no signs of foul play or trauma to his body. […]
BALTIMORE Ravens star Jaylon Ferguson died from accidental fentanyl and cocaine overdose, an autopsy revealed.
The report comes a week after police discovered the 26-year-old’s lifeless body in a North Baltimore home.
At the time, police had called Ferguson’s death “questionable” and said officers found no signs of foul play or trauma to his body.
A friend, who found the unresponsive NFL star, told police at the scene that Ferguson had told him earlier in the night that he was “xanied up,” sources told the Baltimore Banner.
The unidentified friend was reportedly referring to the prescription drug Xanax.
Xanax, or alprazolam, is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
Ferguson had been going through a difficult time after the recent death of his grandmother and a fire at his home in Owings Mills and was suffering from depression, the friend reportedly police.
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The Ravens announced the star’s tragic death on June 22 on their Twitter page, calling Ferguson a “respectful young man with an infectious personality.”
“We are profoundly saddened by the sudden passing of Jaylon Ferguson. He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and infectious personality,” the team said.
“We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon’s family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon.”
Ferguson’s family issued a statement following his death calling it “one of the darkest moments in our lives.”
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“Jaylon was a loving father, son, brother, fiancée and an exceptional athlete. His kindness, big heart and infectious personality will be missed by so many, but his legacy will continue,” his family wrote on Instagram.
Before his tragic death, Ferguson was dealing with an ankle sprain that caused him to miss practice.
The Ravens drafted Ferguson in 2019 out of Louisiana Tech, where he was known as “Sack Daddy”.
He holds the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) record for career sacks with 45.
ESPN reports that the six-foot-five player was a third-round pick when he was drafted by the Ravens and had taken part in all of the team’s 2022 offseason practices.
Since joining the Ravens, Ferguson completed 67 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
In his rookie season, Ferguson recorded nine quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks.
Ferguson’s passing marks the third NFL player to die this year in the league’s offseason.
Rising star Dwayne Haskins was killed by a car in Boca Raton in southern Palm Beach, Florida, just a few weeks before his birthday on May 3.
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NFL player Jeff Gladney, who had recently been drafted to the Arizona Cardinals, was killed in a car accident on May 30.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s hotline at 800-622-4357 or text 1-800-487-4889 for free.