Rudi Johnson, a former NFL running back who played primarily for the Cincinnati Bengals, has died by suicide at the age of 45, as confirmed by police reports. Johnson had been grappling with mental health issues and was suspected to have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disease often found in individuals with a history of repetitive brain trauma, such as athletes and military veterans.
Johnson, an Auburn University alumnus, was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He quickly made a name for himself, setting a franchise record for single-season rushing yards. Over his eight-year career in the NFL, Johnson played in 81 games, starting in 59 of them, with the majority of his tenure spent with the Bengals.
Between 2004 and 2006, Johnson had three consecutive seasons where he rushed for at least 1,300 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. This impressive performance earned him a Pro Bowl selection in 2004. That year, he rushed for 1,454 yards, just four yards short of his career-high set the following season. His 1,458-yard season remains the highest single-season rushing total in Bengals history, with his 1,454-yard season coming in second.
Despite Johnson’s individual achievements, the Bengals only made one playoff appearance during his time with the team. Bengals president Mike Brown expressed his sorrow over Johnson’s passing, lauding his dependability, productivity, and popularity among his teammates.
Johnson concluded his NFL career with the Detroit Lions in 2008, a season in which the team did not secure a single victory. He played in 14 games and accumulated 237 rushing yards. Throughout his career, Johnson amassed 5,979 rushing yards and 49 rushing touchdowns, along with 676 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns over 95 games.
Before his NFL career, Johnson had a standout junior season at Auburn University after spending two years at Butler Community College in Kansas. He rushed for 1,567 yards and 13 touchdowns, second only to Auburn legend Bo Jackson for single-season rushing yards. His performance earned him SEC Player of the Year honors.
In his final days, Johnson was reportedly focused on helping those around him. In 2005, he established the Rudi Johnson Foundation, aimed at supporting children’s learning opportunities and stabilizing their lives.