Former Bengals running back Rudi Johnson dies at 45
Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson dies at 45; TMZ reports he faced mental health struggles and feared he had CTE.
Rudi Johnson, a former running back for the Cincinnati Bengals, died at the age of 45, according to reports. A cause of death had not been released, but TMZ reported that Johnson had been struggling with mental health issues and that he feared he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, the brain disease linked to repeated head trauma seen in some former players.
Johnson was selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft after starring at Auburn University. After two seasons to begin his career, he broke out in his third year with 957 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. In the following three seasons, he rushed for more than 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns combined. Johnson was released by the Bengals in 2008 and signed with the Detroit Lions, where he played the final season of his NFL career.
Johnson appeared in eight NFL seasons. He spent his prime years with Cincinnati, contributing as a regular ball carrier from 2003 through 2006, before finishing his career with a season in Detroit.