Rudi Johnson was a former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl running back. He played for the Bengals for seven seasons and the Detroit Lions for one.
Just days before his death, Johnson appeared by video at a ceremony celebrating his induction into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame. He went to high school in that county. His last message was an uplifting one.
On September 23, only five days later, his tragic cause of death was released after news broke that Johnson was dead at the age of 45. Police told TMZthat Johnson “died by suicide in Florida just after midnight on Tuesday” September 23.
Johnson “had been recently struggling with mental health issues and the possible effects of CTE that he could not overcome,” TMZ reported.
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Rudi Johnson Says in the Video, ‘Dream Big, Shoot for the Stars’
According to Yahoo Sports, Johnson “recorded a video message that was played as part of his induction into the Chesterfield Hall of Fame earlier this month.”
“I just want to say dream big, shoot for the stars, stay focused, never give up,” Johnson says in the video. “And one more thing to all the kids from Chesterfield County, I’ll be watching for the next star to be born.”
“I also want to say thank you to all my coaches and all my teammates,” he said in the video.
In the video, Johnson discussed his journey in high school football, Little League, and into the National Football League.
“Keep your head on straight, stay focused, and one day we will see you on Monday Night Football,” he said a coach told him early on.
The video was posted four days before Johnson’s death by Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Rudi Johnson Did Not Have a Wife or Known Girlfriend at the Time of His Death
Johnson’s mother, Janice Johnson, accepted his award. He was not married and did not have a wife or known girlfriend at the time of his death.
The Chesterfield Hall of Fame, in Virginia, announced Johnson’s inclusion by writing, “A graduate of Thomas Dale High School, Johnson began playing football at the age of six with the Ettrick Trojans of the Chesterfield Quarterback League. He attended Butler Community College and later Auburn University, where he rushed for over 1,500 yards in just one season. Best known for his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson earned Pro Bowl honors after setting the Bengals’ single-season rushing record.”
