Ray Lewis helped the Baltimore Ravens win two Super Bowl titles during his time on the team. He was a defensive lineman for the football team from 1996 through 2012, and the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000 and 2012. In addition, in 2000 and 2003, he also won the title NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Ray’s son, Ray Lewis III, followed in his father’s footsteps. Like his father, the younger Ray played college football for Miami where he was a running back. He went on to become a cornerback at Coastal Carolina and later at Division II Virginia Union.
On June 15, 2023, in his Instagram stories, Ray’s brother, Rahsaan Lewis, shared the tragic news that his brother has died. He was only 28 years old. Rahsaan wrote, “Really can’t believe I’m even typing this but RIP big brother.” He added, “A true angel I pray (you’re) at peace now because ik how much you was (really) hurtin … I love you I love you I love you.”
Rahsaan did not share a cause of death; however, a police report gives more detailed information about what happened. Reportedly, Ray died on Wednesday June 14th. According to the Casselberry Police Department’s police report, officers were called to a home in central Florida. When they arrived, they found Ray in one of the home’s bedrooms. Ray was unconscious, but another person in the home was attempting to perform CPR on Ray when the police arrived.
It is suspected that Ray died of a drug overdose. A person in the home told police that Ray needed an opioid-overdose antidote naloxone. The police complied by administering Narcan. Ray was taken to the hospital, but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead.
While the cause of death is suspected to be a drug overdose, the cause of death will not be official until after the autopsy report. The police do not suspect foul play. The police report explains, “The evidence and witness accounts show this incident to be a tragic accident.”
Diego Ryland, the associate head coach for Virginia Union, told TMZ that Ray was a “great young man and a better teammate.” He added, “The entire Virginia Union University community is praying for the family as they deal with the loss of Ray.”
Watch the video below to learn more about Ray Lewis III’s life and unexpected death.