Heartbreaking Cause Of Death Revealed For Former Cincinnati Bengals Star RB Rudi Johnson
Rudi Johnson (Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images)
More heartbreaking details have emerged following the tragic death of former Cincinnati Bengals star running back Rudi Johnson.
FastCast: Friday’s best in < 10 minutes
On Tuesday, news broke that Rudi Johnson passed away at the age of 45 in Florida. The Auburn product and 2000 SEC Offensive Player of the Year was eight days away from his 46th birthday.
The cause of death wasn’t immediately available, though authorities stated that foul play was not suspected.
In an update, police told TMZ Sports that the cause of death has been ruled a suicide. The outlet reported that Rudi Johnson was “recently struggling with mental health issues and the possible effects of CTE that he could not overcome.”
Bengals owner and president Mike Brown shared the following statement on Johnson’s passing, per TMZ Sports:
“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us. He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a dear friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”
The Bengals also posted a Johnson tribute video on their X/Twitter account:
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google!Follow Us
Our thoughts and prayers are with Johnson’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Rudi Johnson Is Fourth On The Bengals’ Franchise Rushing Yards Leaderboard
Rudi Johnson (Credit: Cincinnati Enquirer/Michael E. Keating)
Johnson rushed for 5,742 yards during his seven seasons with the Bengals, fourth-most in franchise history. The only ones with more are Corey Dillon (8,061), James Brooks (6,447) and Joe Mixon (6,412), though they all played far more games than Johnson in a Bengals uniform.
Rudi Johnson’s 48 rushing scores are also the third-most in Bengals history, behind only Pete Johnson (64) and Mixon (49). His average of 70.9 rushing yards per contest also places him third in franchise history.
A fourth-round pick of the Bengals in 2001, Johnson exceeded 1,300 yards rushing three years in a row from 2004 to 2006, including a career-high 1,458 in the 2005 season. That year, Johnson led the Bengals to a surprise AFC North division crown and their first playoff appearance since 1990.
The one-time Pro Bowler also posted a whopping 36 rushing touchdowns between 2004 and 2006. As a Bengal, Johnson also tallied 101 receptions for 588 yards and one receiving touchdown.
