Rudi Johnson Dead at 45; Team Confirms

Former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl running back Rudi Johnson has died at 45, the team confirmed, and Bengals president Mike Brown and former teammates publicly mourned him. Multiple outlets, citing TMZ and family or police sources, report Johnson died by suicide and that he had been struggling with mental health issues and possible effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), though the team has not publicly released an official cause of death. A fourth‑round pick out of Auburn in 2001, Johnson spent seven seasons in Cincinnati, finished his career in Detroit in 2008, was a 2004 Pro Bowler and still holds the Bengals’ single‑season rushing record with 1,458 yards in 2005. His career totals were reported at about 5,979 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. Off the field, he founded the Rudi Johnson Foundation in 2005, was recently inducted into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame with his mother accepting the honor, and details about final arrangements remain limited.