Former Bengals Star Running Back Rudi Johnson Dies at 45
Cincinnati, OH – Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi johnson has died at the age of 45, the team confirmed Wednesday. While the Bengals did not release details surrounding his death, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is investigating, with initial indications pointing to suicide, according to Detective Joseph Peguero, who told NBC News that no foul play is suspected.
Team president Mike brown remembered Johnson as a “fine person” and a “dear friend” in a statement. Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer, expressed hope that his death would spur further research into Chronic traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
“These tragic circumstances must also serve as a call to action,” Schaffer said in a statement to NBC News. “The NFL and the scientific community must do more – more research into CTE, more innovation into how we can treat it, prevent it, and provide support to those living with it. Players past,present,and future deserve nothing less.”
While CTE can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem, it is currently unconfirmed whether Johnson had the degenerative disease.
Johnson was a fourth-round selection by the Bengals in the 2001 NFL Draft. After spending his first two seasons primarily as a backup, injuries to starter Corey Dillon thrust him into a larger role in 2003, where he rushed for 957 yards and nine touchdowns on 215 attempts.
Following Dillon’s trade, Johnson became the starting running back in 2004 and enjoyed three highly productive seasons. From 2004-2006, he averaged 1,407 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, earning his only Pro bowl selection in 2004. He set a franchise record that year with 1,454 rushing yards, a mark he surpassed in 2005 with 1,458 yards - a record that still stands with the bengals.
The 2005 season saw the Bengals reach the playoffs, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round. Johnson scored a touchdown in the defeat.
Injuries hampered Johnson in 2007, limiting him to 11 games and 497 rushing yards. He was released by the Bengals during training camp in 2008 and finished his NFL career with the Detroit Lions, where he had 76 rushing attempts.
Johnson returned to Paul Brown Stadium in 2016 for the team’s Legends Weekend, marking his first visit since his release.Former teammate Chad Johnson paid tribute to the running back on X (formerly Twitter) on tuesday. Both players were drafted by the Bengals in 2001 - Rudi in the fourth round and Chad in the second.
