Rudi Johnson, Bengals’ Record-Breaking Rusher, Dies At 45

Johnson died by suicide early Tuesday, TMZ reported, citing police in Florida.

“Rudi was a wonderful particular person and a very good operating again for us,” Bengals president Mike Brown stated in a statement posted on X by the workforce. “He was reliable and productive as a participant, and very fashionable amongst his teammates. Everybody favored him and noticed him as a pricey good friend. We’re deeply saddened by his passing.”

Johnson was a fourth-round choose of the Bengals out of Auburn in 2001.

In 2003 he gained 957 yards for the workforce, then established himself as a star. He rushed for more than 1,000 in the three next seasons ― 1,454 in 2004 to set a workforce document, 1,458 in 2005 to interrupt his personal mark, and 1,309 in 2006. He scored 12 touchdowns in every of these years.

TMZ wrote {that a} member of the family revealed Johnson “had been just lately scuffling with psychological well being points and the attainable results of CTE that he couldn’t overcome.”

Persistent traumatic encephalopathy is a brain condition attributable to repeated head trauma. A study last year discovered that about one third of NFL alums consider they’ve CTE, although it may well solely be formally identified in demise.

Johnson completed his profession in 2008 with the Detroit Lions.