Former Bengals RB Rudi Johnson Dead at 45
Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson has died at the age of 45, confirmed by a family source.
The cause of death has not been released, but relatives said Johnson had been battling mental health challenges and possible effects of CTE in the years leading up to his passing.
MORE: 20 Photos of Ja’Marr Chase’s GF Deja Nicole Hiott
Drafted in the fourth round in 2001, Rudi Johnson became a fan favorite in Cincinnati after breaking out in his third season.
From 2003 to 2005, he put together one of the best three-year stretches in team history: rushing for more than 4,000 yards and scoring 36 touchdowns. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2004 and finished his NFL career with over 5,700 rushing yards and 48 rushing scores before playing his final season with the Detroit Lions in 2008.
Before his time in the NFL, Johnson was a star at Auburn University, where he was named SEC Player of the Year. Off the field, he launched a foundation dedicated to supporting children and families through community programs.
Family members said his legacy won’t just be his numbers on the field but his efforts to help others in the community.
- Electric Shock Gloves Were Used On Students In Omaha Public Schools [Op-Ed]
- Video Shows Arkansas Cop Hold Gun To Unarmed Black Man’s Head Following Argument With Gas Station Clerk [Op-Ed]
- Food’s Still Unsafe, But Don’t Worry, Trump Signed An EO Renaming Lake Ontario [Op-Ed]
- Postal Service Rule Overhauling Mail-In Voting Blocked Again
- Here We Go Again: Mississippi Police Chief’s Racist, N-Word-Laced Texts Exposed [Op-Ed]
- Even Republican Governors Are Concerned About DOJ’s Poll Monitors
- San Bernardino Deputies Fatally Shot Unarmed Black Man 20 Times, Lawsuit Says
- Is Karen Attiah’s Win A Victory For Black Journalism? [Op-Ed]
- Social Media Erupts With Hilarious Reactions To Kenya Moore’s Suspected Cosmetic Sorcery
- Leslie Jones Dishes On HGTV’s ‘Roast My Rental,’ And Her Love For Cleanliness
