Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson dies of drug overdose

Jaylon Ferguson, a Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker who died last month after being found unconscious in a North Baltimore home, died of the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, authorities said Friday.

Bruce Goldfarb, spokesman for Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, said Mr Ferguson’s death was ruled accidental.

Baltimore police previously said detectives were investigating and had not ruled out the possibility of an overdose. Detective Vernon Davis, a police spokesman, said on Friday the investigation was continuing and he declined to answer further questions about the case.

Authorities were called to a North Baltimore home on June 21 just before 11:30 p.m. to investigate a “suspicious death.” When they arrived, Mr Ferguson, 26, was unresponsive and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. There were no signs of trauma or foul play, authorities said at the time.

Chad Steele, a Ravens spokesman, said the team was focused on the positive impact Mr Ferguson had as a “father, son, fiancé, friend and teammate”.

“It would be inappropriate for us to comment further as we continue to support his family and teammates, who mourn the tragic loss of a loved one and celebrate his life tomorrow,” Mr Steele said on Friday.

The Ravens selected Mr. Ferguson in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft as the 85th overall pick. During his rookie season, he recorded 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and he contributed to a Ravens defense that ranked third in points allowed. In 2020, in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he recorded a career-high six tackles.

Ferguson, a Louisiana native and graduate of Louisiana Tech University, broke the NCAA record for career sacks with 45, earning the nickname “Sack Daddy” and beating longtime former Ravens player Terrell Suggs, who posted 44 career sacks at Arizona State University.