Ray Lewis III, the son of NFL legend and former Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis, has died at the age of 28, his brother has announced.
Lewis III’s younger brother, Rahsaan, posted on his Instagram story that his sibling had passed away. A cause of death has not yet been stated, with the Washington Post reaching out to the Ravens for a comment and were yet to respond at the time of writing.
Rahsaan Lewis confirmed the news on Thursday, by writing on Instagram : “Really can’t believe I’m even typing this but RIP big brother. A true angel. I pray you're at peace now because ik [I know] how much you was rlly [sic] hurtin [sic]. 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] gonna 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.”
Lewis III had followed in his father’s footsteps by playing American football for the Miami Hurricanes, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and Virginia Union Panthers during his college days, and started out as a running back. In 2021, he decided to make the switch to the Champions Indoor Football league with the Wyoming Mustangs.
He would eventually leave Coastal Carolina and move to Virginia, where he would switch from a running back to a defensive back.
Lewis III’s father, Ray Lewis, is an NFL Hall of Famer after spending the entirety of his career with the Baltimore Ravens and is widely regarded as one of the best linebackers in the league’s history. During his career which spanned from 1996-2012, Lewis won two Super Bowl’s after being drafted with the 26th overall pick in 1996.
Virginia Union’s head coach Diego Ryland has paid tribute to Lewis III and sent a message to the whole family following the tragic news. “Great young man and a better teammate,” Ryland told TMZ .
“The entire Virginia Union University community is praying for the family as they deal with the loss of Ray.”
Mark James, who was Lewis III’s coach while at Virginia Union, also paid tribute. “Ray was a tremendous young man who played with the spirit of a lion,” James told the Baltimore Sun . “He was a great asset to the Virginia Union family. He will always be a Panther. May God bless his family.”
