Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis recently spoke virtually at a team meeting for Deion Sanders and his Colorado football team. Over the course of his remarks, he touched on a variety of subjects including the 2023 death of his son Ray Lewis III, a former football player at HBCU Virginia Union University.
The elder Lewis brought his late son into the conversation as he was delivering motivational remarks to the Buffs.
“Even when you think you got time, you don’t have time. I lost my son at 28 years old because of the same foolishness that you guys have in front of you now. That’s the same foolishness that took my son out from an overdose. As a father, you will never recover from that, ever. So my son, I wear him around my neck the rest of my life, and he always says, let’s make today a great day,” Lewis said.
“I never understood how we take time for granted. How we act like time is a friend of ours. You know, Proverbs 3:5 says trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Because if we do, we are in trouble. I lost him and I learned something. If you don’t have a pro mentality about life, the game will pass you too quickly,” he continued.
The autopsy report of Ray Lewis III found fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine intoxication in his system after his death in June 2023. Alcohol and alprazolam were also found in his system as well. Lewis played the 2017 season for Virginia Union, where he recorded 37 tackles in his lone season playing HBCU football.
Ray Lewis talks about making each day great
Earlier in the conversation, Lewis told the Colorado players how he goes about his day-to-day at 49 years old after playing 17 years in the NFL.
“People live to die. I got to live. I get up every day and I figure out a way to get on my bike. At 49 years old, I got 50 miles today. Because the game is the game, and the game will come and the game go. But I’m going to tell you something that can never leave you is when you create the right relationship with God. And when you create this whole aura of a lifestyle, the game of life changes,” Lewis said.
The former Baltimore Raven and former teammate of Deion Sanders gave the players advice on how to reimagine how they start their day.
“I Guarantee you, ninety percent of everybody sitting in his locker gets up every day. And the first thing you grab is your phone, and that’s your equity. That’s your confirmation that you’re successful. Then ninety percent of you are spiritually dead. And when you find yourself spiritually dead, it’s hard to win. It’s easy to win games, easy, man. Talent can win you some games, but when you talk about going to that next level of life. Your mentality has to be totally different,” he said.
“I can’t start my day without picking up three books at one time. Without going through three (holding up books) because I know I’m flawed, I know I can’t please God, not with the thoughts I got. I can please him if I stay in his word.”
Earlier this spring Ray Lewis received his son’s degree from Virginia Union University posthumously.
Deion Sanders is entering his second season as head coach of Colorado after spending three seasons at HBCU Jackson State University.
Watch the full video from Thee Pregame Show here.