Former Bengals running back and Auburn standout Rudi Johnson has died at 45 in an apparent suicide shortly after midnight Tuesday, according to police reports shared with TMZ.
Johnson had reportedly been dealing with mental health challenges and the possible effects of CTE, struggles he was unable to overcome.
Drafted by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft (No. 100 overall), Johnson went on to set the franchise’s single-season rushing record.
Rudi Johnson spent the majority of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals, playing seven of his eight seasons with the AFC North franchise. He appeared in 81 games for the Bengals, making 59 starts.
From 2004 to 2006, Johnson delivered three consecutive seasons with at least 1,300 rushing yards and exactly 12 touchdowns. His breakout 2004 campaign earned him his only Pro Bowl selection after rushing for 1,454 yards — just shy of his career-best 1,458 the following year.
That 1,458-yard performance in 2005 remains the single-season rushing record in Bengals history, with his 1,454-yard season ranking second.
