Football news: Ray Lewis III dies of suspected overdose

Casselberry, Florida –

Ray Lewis III, the son of two-time Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis, has died, police said in an incident report detailing a suspected overdose.

Lewis died Wednesday after officers were called to a central Florida home and found him unconscious in a bedroom, according to the Casselberry Police Department.

Lewis was reported to be 28 years old. He played cornerback for two seasons at his father’s alma mater, Miami, before transferring to Coastal Carolina in 2015. He ended his career with Virginia Union.

“The evidence and witness statements show that this incident is a tragic accident,” police said in a statement.

A person in the house was trying to resuscitate Lewis when a cop arrived Wednesday night. The officer was told by a second person that Lewis needed the opioid overdose antidote naloxone, which the officer administered using Narcan, according to the police report.

The antidote and further life-saving attempts were unsuccessful. Police said Lewis was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead of a suspected overdose, pending an official autopsy report.

His coach at Virginia Union, Mark James, said his former player “was a great kid”.

“He played hard and it was a pleasure knowing him,” James told The Associated Press by phone on Friday.

Lewis’ younger brother Rahsaan Lewis said in an Instagram story, “I honestly can’t believe I’m even typing this but RIP big brother.”

James remembered Lewis as a level-headed young man who worked hard and never pretended to be above others, despite his father’s success as an NFL standout and Pro Football Hall of Famer.

“I think by the time we got him he was ready for the job of going to school and playing football and making an impact,” said James. “He was a hard worker.”

At Coastal Carolina, Lewis played 12 games at cornerback with 19 tackles. He had 37 tackles for Virginia Union in 2017.