How did Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson die?

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson died last month, and medical examiners say that after an autopsy, the cause of death was found to be the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine. The Maryland Department of Health also ruled the death as accidental.

Responding to reports of a death at Ferguson’s home in North Baltimore, police found him unresponsive at the premises. The 26-year-old was pronounced dead on the scene by medics.

Ferguson set college and NCAA records

Ferguson was a standout player at Louisiana Tech, where he set an NCAA record of 45 sacks and earned the nickname “Sack Daddy”. He was named Conference USA defensive player of the year in 2018, and made the All-C-USA first-team two times.

He was acquired by the Ravens in the third round of the 2019 Draft and played three seasons with the franchise, tallying 67 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

The young player’s funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday in Saint Francisville, Louisiana. He is survived by his fiancée, Doni Smith, and three children who are all below the age of five.

Raising funds for Ferguson’s children

An online fundraiser was organized for his children, where it was stated that Ferguson’s family had recently suffered a house fire which claimed a lot of his children’s belongings.

“To give you insight on the type of father he was he desperately tried to put out the fire in order to save his children’s possessions to the point where his own toes were burned in the process,” says the gofundme website.

According to the Baltimore Banner, the fire was one of the personal issues that Ferguson was dealing with, along with the recent death of his grandmother.