The Ravens announced on Wednesday that linebacker Jaylon Ferguson has died at the age of 26. He played three seasons in the NFL with Baltimore from 2019-2021.
Jaylon Ferguson, Baltimore Ravens linebacker, dead at 26
Jaylon Ferguson, who played three seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens from 2019-2021, has passed away at the age of 26, the team announced on Wednesday.
Ferguson was a star at Louisiana Tech and was a third-round pick by the Ravens in the 2019 NFL draft, the New York Post reported.
"We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson," the team said in a statement. "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."
"It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of Baltimore Ravens LB Jaylon Ferguson," his agent, Safarrah Lawson, told NFL.com. "The family asks for your prayers and privacy during this trying time."
The cause of Ferguson's death was not immediately reported.
Police found Ferguson's body in Baltimore on Tuesday night, telling a newspaper there was no initial indication of "trauma or foul play," according to the HuffPost
Ferguson leaves behind three children with fiancée Doni Smith and was due to report to training camp for his fourth season in late July.
Ferguson's football career
Ferguson attended West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana, where he played both football and basketball for four years, according to Wikipedia.
College football at Louisiana Tech
In college, in his first year at Louisiana Tech in 2014, Ferguson redshirted.
Ferguson played in twelve games with five starts in 2015 and quickly became a standout, recording thirty-five tackles and six sacks.
As a sophomore in 2016, Ferguson set the school record for sacks in a season with 14.5.
In his junior year in 2017, Ferguson recorded 38 tackles and 7 sacks.
Ferguson's senior year brought him national attention. He broke his own school record for both career and single-season sacks with a 17.5. He also became the NCAA FBS career sack leader during the 2018 Hawaii Bowl and was named the winning-team MVP of the game.
Pro career
Pre-draft, Ferguson stood 6'-4.75", weighed 271 pounds, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds.
Ferguson was selected in the third-round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He played for the team for three seasons from 2019-2021.
In 2019, Fergusson played 14 games, with 19 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, and 2.5 sacks, according to NFL stats.
In 2020, Fergusson played 14 games, with 18 solo tackles, 9 assisted tackles, and 2 sacks.
In 2020, Fergusson played 10 games, with 2 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, and 0 sacks.