Ravens to Fly Together to Funeral for Tray Walker

Members of the Baltimore Ravens will fly to the funeral for Tray Walker together courtesy of the team's owner.

Walker, a 23-year-old rookie cornerback, died March 18 from injuries in a dirt bike crash in Miami, where he grew up.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is chartering a plane so members of the organization can go down to Florida for Walker's funeral this weekend, according to the BaltimoreRavens.com.

"That's the least we can do," Bisciotti said in a statement. "I’m happy they are going to be there representing us, showing the family how much he meant to us. That’s really what you want to express.”

• Baltimore Ravens' Tray Walker Dies from Crash Injuries
• Baltimore Ravens' Tray Walker Critically Hurt in Crash

A public viewing for Tray Walker will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 25, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Miami.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at 93rd Street Baptist Church in Miami.

Walker was riding a Honda dirt bike that collided with a Ford Escape at a four-way stop on St. Patrick's Day. Officials said they do not believe drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.

The driver of the SUV stayed at the scene and was cooperative with the police investigation.

Miami Police told reporters that Walker’s bike did not have headlights, he was not wearing a helmet and he was wearing dark clothes at the time.

Walker, who grew up in Miami, was in the early stages of a promising career after being picked in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft.

He attended Miami Northwestern High School and played college football at Texas Southern.

The 6-foot-2, 199-pounder was a developmental player for the Ravens last season. Walker played in eight games and recorded one solo tackle from scrimmage. He mostly competed on special teams.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh wrote an inspirational letter to Ravens players after Walker became injured, encouraging them to be leaders at home, consider their choices and grow spiritually. He said at an industry conference this week that he has continued processing the tragedy with the team.

"Everybody just loved Tray," Harbaugh told reporters this week. "Everybody just really loved him and everybody was just stunned."

Defensive backs coach Chris Hewitt described Walker as teachable, with a "thirst for knowledge."

In a statement released by the Ravens, Hewitt said: "Tray was a young man who had a way about him that he could light up a room with his smile...after last season he left our building determined that in 2016 he would be a household name in Baltimore. He had so much potential and was on his way to being a great NFL player. He will be missed and will never be forgotten.”

Patch editor Deb Belt contributed to this article.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons by Jeffrey Beall.