Ray Lewis III, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, has died at the age of 28. The reported cause of death was an accidental drug overdose.
Lewis’ younger brother Rahsaan Lewis shared the news on his social media Thursday.
“Really can’t believe I’m even typing this, but RIP big brother,” Lewis wrote. “A true angel. I pray you are at peace now because ik how much you were really hurt. I don’t and won’t ever have the words, man, cuz, this pain right here . . . I love you, I love you, I love you. Your niece is gone miss you, but she will hear about u over and over. Just watch over us all, big bruh. Be our guardian. I promise I’ll make you smile and proud.”
His sister, Diaymon Lewis, also wrote on her story about her brother. “Brownie, I love [you] with all of my heart,” she wrote. “You will always be my first love and truly are the definition of a quintessential brother. To the most genuine and talented person I know, go get your rest baby and I’m glad you’re at peace. “Fly high baby.”
Their father, two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Hall of Famer, Ray Lewis, has not spoken publicly about his passing yet.
Ray III attended Lake Mary Prep High School in Florida, where he was a running back. He went on to play running back at the University of Miami. After one season at Miami, Lewis transferred to Coastal Carolina, where he played as a reserve running back and participated on special teams. But in 2016, he was dismissed from the team and the university after being indicted by a South Carolina grand jury on a charge of third-degree criminal sexual assault, according to the Orlando Sentinel. But after a lengthy investigation, charges were dropped. from there his career picked up and he went on to finish his college career with the Virginia Union Panthers in 2017.
In 2021, he signed with the Wyoming Mustangs professional indoor football team. Virginia Union Associate Head Coach Diego Ryland spoke to
TMZand called Lewis II’s death “very unfortunate.”
“Great young man and a better teammate,” said Diego. “The entire Virginia Union University community is praying for the family as they deal with the loss of Ray.”
Aside from football, Ray III was also an aspiring rapper, occasionally dropping singles and videos on his
social media. “Sports gives you a platform to inspire change, help, give back, encourage. I whole-heartedly believe we were put on this earth to help one another,” he posted on his
Instagram back in 2020, with a picture of him and a little girl. “We are all fighting unspoken battles on a daily basis. People can only understand things from their own level of perception. The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.
