Baltimore police said in a statement that officers were called to the home shortly before 11:30 p.m. to investigate a “disputed death”. When they arrived, Mr. Ferguson did not respond, said Detective Nicki Fenoi, a spokesman for the department. Rescuers found him dead at the scene, he said. There were no signs of injury or poor play, Detective Fenoi said, but investigators “do not rule out the possibility of an overdose.” Mr Ferguson’s body was taken to a medical examiner, where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, police said. The Ravens announced Mr Ferguson’s death on social media early Wednesday morning, saying the group was “deeply saddened by the tragic death of Jaylon Ferguson”. The team described Mr Ferguson as a “gentle, respectful young man with a big smile and an infectious personality”. “We express our deepest condolences to Jaylon’s family and friends as we mourn a life lost very soon,” the team wrote. The Ravens selected Mr. Ferguson in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft as their 85th overall pick. In his rookie season, he recorded 31 tackles and 2.5 bags and contributed to the defense of the Ravens, which ranked third in the allowed points. In 2020, in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he recorded a career high of six tackles. Mr. Ferguson, a Louisiana native and graduate of the Louisiana University of Technology, broke the all-time NCAA record for career redundancies with 45, earning the nickname “Sack Daddy” and surpassing longtime former Rs Sug who published 44 Career Dismissals at Arizona State University. Current and former NFL teammates and players shared tributes with Mr. Ferguson on Wednesday. Ravens player Josh Baines said on Twitter that he and Mr. Ferguson always had “real” conversations. “We joked together, we laughed together, we prayed together, they fought together on the field !!” He wrote. “Just a genuine spirit.”
