Former NFL star Jaylon Ferguson died from a drug overdose caused by “the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine,” a spokesperson for Baltimore’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed on Friday. The football linebacker, who played for the Baltimore Ravens, had been found unresponsive at a Baltimore residence back on June 21, and from what officials have stated, he never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.
According to the Daily Mail, the 26-year-old’s death has been ruled an accident, though a written autopsy has yet to be made available. Furthermore, investigators had found no signs of trauma or foul play, concluding that his sudden passing was solely caused by the fatal combination of drugs he consumed.
An autopsy revealed Baltimore #Ravens linebacker and Louisiana native Jaylon Ferguson died from the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine. @USATODAY #RavensFlock
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) July 1, 2022
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“Our priority is focused on the man Jaylon was and the positive impact he made on so many as a father, son, fiancé, friend and teammate,” a team statement read. “It would be inappropriate for us to comment further while we continue to support his family and teammates, who are mourning the tragic loss of a loved one and will celebrate his life tomorrow.” On Saturday, Jaylon’s body is scheduled for a viewing in St. Francisville, Louisiana, his fiancée, Doni Smith has shared.
Doni shares three children with Jaylon; Jyce, 4, Jrea, 3, and Demi, 1. After learning about his death last week, she took to social media to mourn the devastating loss of her significant other in a heartfelt post, writing, “God, this is killing me baby!!! Rest In Paradise my King!!! I miss you like crazy.”
Jaylon had been drafted by the Ravens back in 2019 and played his entire professional career with them. His former coach John Harbaugh was undoubtedly devastated by the news, saying, “Jaylon was a good-hearted, gentle person who loved his family and his team. He was a joy to talk with and be around every day. You always wanted to see and talk to `Ferg.´ Our prayers and our help go to his family.”
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In his short-lived NFL career, Jaylon had already impressed his team with nine starts as a rookie for the Ravens in 2019, and after spending time on the COVID-19 list early last season, he still ended up appearing in 10 games prior to his demise.
“Me and ‘Ferg’ went through some of the same struggles when it came to making a name for ourselves in the league,” his former teammate Tyus Bowser shared in a separate statement. “From that, we were able to gain an understanding and help each other build and grow as players. From the playbook, to the field – and even outside of work – we created a strong bond amongst ourselves. Whether I was having a bad day or vice versa, we encouraged each other, and that´s what I appreciated most and what I´ll miss about him.”