Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson’s death has been ruled an accident stemming from the “combined effects” of fentanyl and cocaine, according to medical examiners.
The conclusion was reached after officials conducted an autopsy on his body. A write-up of the report will not be completed for several months, Bruce Goldfarb, a spokesman for Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, confirmed to the Washington Examiner.
BALTIMORE RAVENS LINEBACKER DEAD AT 26
“This is one of the darkest moments in our lives, and we are still utterly shocked. We ask that you please respect our privacy as we navigate through this difficult time,” his family said in a statement following his death late last month.
Ferguson was found unresponsive on June 21 by a friend. Police arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and found no evidence of foul play. They left open the possibility that his death was the result of intoxication. He was 26 years old when he died.
The person who found him claimed that Ferguson told him that he was “xanied up,” referencing the sedative Xanax, according to the Baltimore Banner. At the time, Ferguson was dealing with the death of his grandmother and the fallout from a fire that had scorched his home.
Ferguson had a breakthrough college football career at Louisiana Tech University and became the all-time sack leader in the NCAA’s Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. In 2019, he was drafted by the Ravens during the third round and played three seasons for the team, ending with his death.
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“We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson,” the team said in a statement after his death. “He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and infectious personality. We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon’s family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon.”
Ferguson is survived by his fiancee Doni Smith and three children. His family began a fundraiser for his three children following his death. A celebration of his life and a viewing ceremony have been scheduled for Saturday at the Magnolia Full Gospel Baptist Church in Louisiana, per the Baltimore Banner.
