Ray Lewis III’s Legacy: A Mother’s Mission to Protect Young Athletes

After losing her son Ray Anthony Lewis III, Tiana McCall Wimberley transformed unimaginable grief into a mission to protect other families through CTE education, informed consent, and the RL3 Foundation. Tiana McCall Wimberley joins Paul Frase and former co-host Corey Berry to share the life and legacy of her son, Ray Anthony Lewis III—affectionately known as Ray Ray. Tiana opens up about raising her sons in a football family, what she wishes she had understood about repeated head impacts, and how Ray Ray’s CTE diagnosis changed the direction of her life. She also discusses the difficult decisions families face when children want to play contact sports, why awareness must extend beyond diagnosed concussions, and how her surviving sons now approach football differently. Through the RL3 Foundation, Tiana and her family are carrying forward Ray Ray’s love of children, football, music, and people. Their work includes CTE education, mental-health awareness, prevention grants for high-school football programs, community events, and advocacy for stronger informed-consent protections in youth sports. This is a deeply personal conversation about grief, faith, accountability, and a mother’s determination to ensure that her son’s life—and his death—lead to meaningful change. Production note: This previously recorded episode features Corey Berry and was filmed before his departure from The HeadRush Podcast. Learn more about the RL3 Foundation at RL3Foundation.com. Podcast Sponsors The HeadRush Podcast proudly recognizes: Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation — Learn about repeated head impacts, CTE prevention, family resources, and brain-healthy teams at StopCTE.org. Millennium Health Centers — Helping veterans, athletes, first responders, and others address the underlying effects of brain trauma through the Millennium Protocol. Visit TBIHelpNow.org. Millennium Health Store Paradise Behavioral Health — BrainWell Program — Led by Dr. Maizel DeMaio and focused on personalized approaches to brain and behavioral health. Visit ParadiseBehavioral.com. MC Wellness — Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S Ambio Life Sciences — Learn more about its work with ibogaine and neurodegenerative conditions at Ambio.life. Vielight, Inc. — A leader in transcranial and intranasal photobiomodulation technology. Use discount code HEADRUSHVL when purchasing through Vielight.