Ferguson redshirted his first year at Louisiana Tech in 2014. In 2015, he played in 12 games with five starts and recorded 35 tackles and six sacks. As a sophomore in 2016, he set the school record for sacks in a season with 14.5.[2][3] As a junior in 2017, Ferguson had 38 tackles and seven sacks.[4] He returned to Louisiana Tech for his senior year in 2018.[5] During the season he broke the school record for career sacks and broke his own school record for sacks in a single-season with 17.5.[6] Ferguson became the Football Bowl Subdivision career sack leader during the 2018 Hawaii Bowl, and was also named winning-team MVP of that game.[7]
In February 2019, the National Football League (NFL) rescinded their invitation to Ferguson to attend the NFL Scouting Combine after discovering his misdemeanor simple battery conviction from 2015.[1]
Ferguson was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round (85th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.[10] On July 19, 2019, Ferguson was placed on the reserve/NFI list with a hamstring injury.[11] He was removed two days later.[12] On September 22, 2019, Ferguson made his NFL debut, recording 18 snaps against the Kansas City Chiefs.[13] He recorded his first-career tackle two weeks later against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[14] He made his first NFL start on November 3 against the New England Patriots.[15] On November 17, Ferguson recorded his first-career sack against the Houston Texans, bringing down Deshaun Watson in the second quarter.[16] Three weeks later, he recorded his second sack against the Buffalo Bills, sacking Josh Allen.[17]
In Week 4 of the 2020 season against the Washington Football Team, Ferguson recorded his first sack of the season on Dwayne Haskins during the 31–17 win.[18] Ferguson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Ravens on November 28, 2020,[19] and activated two days later.[20] In the 2020 season, Ferguson started in one game and appeared in 14 total, finishing the season with 2.0 sacks and 30 tackles.[21] In 2021, Ferguson appeared in 10 games, recording six tackles but no sacks.[21]
Personal life and death
Ferguson had a son and two daughters with his fiancée.[22]
Ferguson died in Baltimore on June 21, 2022, at the age of 26.[23] Police indicated that while the death was "questionable", there were initially no signs of foul play or trauma.[24] The next day, the Ravens released a statement stating: "We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson. He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and infectious personality. We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon's family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon."[23] His death was later declared to be caused by the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, and it was ruled that the death was accidental.[25]
