Rudi Johnson, a former Cincinnati Bengals running back, died on September 23, 2025. He was 45. The late NFL player’s cause of death is now a widespread concern among fans because the late athlete was reportedly struggling with his mental health during his final days.
Just days before he was found dead, Johnson appeared in a pre-recorded message for the Chesterfield Hall of Fame that was played for his induction. He encouraged others to “never give up.”
“I just want to say dream big, shoot for the stars, stay focused, never give up,” Johnson said in the message, per WTVR CBS 6. “And one more thing to all the kids from Chesterfield County, I’ll be watching for the next star to be born.”
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rudi Johnson. pic.twitter.com/wXTd8jgEBl
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 23, 2025
Below, learn what happened to Johnson, how he died and more on his illustrious football career.
Johnson was a retired NFL athlete, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals for eight seasons as a running back. Known by some as the “Auburn Rambler,” the late Virginia native was selected by his team in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Johnson’s birth name was Burudi Ali Johnson, which he said was partly inspired by his family’s admiration for Muhammad Ali. His first name, Burudi, means “cool” in Swahili.
