Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis shared an emotional message about the loss of his son, Ray Lewis III, telling followers in a video posted to his official Instagram account that the grief remains with him every day more than three years after his son's death.
"If you've ever lost a child, you'll understand how unbearable the pain really is," Lewis said in the video. "You can't get up every morning and not think about him. I wear him around my neck every day of my life." Lewis said he still lives by something his son always told him: "Dad, let's make today a great day."
Lewis then turned his message toward encouragement, urging people facing their own struggles to lean on faith and keep going. "Take the next 30, 60, 90 days. Every habit, every addiction that you have, replace it with God. Replace your worries with praise. Replace your stress with victories," he said. "And if you don't ever do nothing else, God bless you, but don't ever, ever stop moving."
Ray Lewis III died in June 2023 from an accidental overdose at the age of 28. In May 2024, an examination of his brain tissue by Dr. Ann McKee, director of Boston University's CTE Center, resulted in a diagnosis of Stage 2 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a finding his family shared to raise awareness about the risks of youth tackle football. In June 2024, Lewis and family members organized the RL3 Foundation's inaugural Motivation Weekend in Apopka, Florida, to celebrate his son's legacy.
Lewis, 51, spent his entire 17-year NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, winning two Super Bowls and earning induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His message has spread widely online, drawing support from fans and former players who praised his openness about grief and faith.
