Medical examiner: Ravens LB Jaylon Ferguson died of effects from fentanyl, cocaine
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson died from the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, Maryland Department of Health spokesman Chase Cook told USA TODAY Sports on Friday.
Ferguson's manner of death was ruled to be an accident, Cook said.
On June 21, Baltimore police found Ferguson, 26, unresponsive at a home in North Baltimore and pronounced him dead on the scene. Police were responding to a report of a "questionable death," though they said they found no signs of trauma or foul play.
"We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson," the Ravens said in a statement released after Ferguson's 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 played three years for the Ravens after the team selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. He had 67 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4 ½ sacks in 38 career games.
Ferguson set a Football Bowl Subdivision record with 45 career sacks at Louisiana Tech.
“Jaylon definitely had the biggest heart that I’ve ever imagined. I thought that I had a big heart, but his heart was way bigger,” Doni Smith, Ferguson's fiancée, told the Baltimore Sun. “He just was a guy that wanted joy. He wanted peace. He wanted everybody to be happy. He would meet people, and they would instantly become family.”
Contributing: Tom Schad
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jaylon Ferguson: Ravens LB died of effects from fentanyl, cocaine
