Former Bengals running back Rudi Johnson dead at 45 in suicide

Former Bengals running back and Auburn star Rudi Johnson died at the age of 45 after committing suicide a little past midnight Tuesday, police told TMZ.

The outlet reported that Johnson had been “struggling with mental health issues and the possible effects of CTE that he could not overcome.”

The Bengals drafted Johnson in the fourth round with the No. 100 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft and he became their single-season rushing yards leader.

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He spent seven of his eight years in the league with the AFC North squad, appearing in 81 games with the franchise and starting 59.

Johnson had three straight years in which he rushed for at least 1,300 yards and exactly 12 touchdowns from 2004-06, earning his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2004.

He rushed for 1,454 yards that year, just four yards short of his career-high set the following season.

His 1,458-yard campaign marks the most rushing yards in a season in franchise history, and his 1,454-yard season is the second-highest total.

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The Bengals appeared in just one playoff game during Johnson’s tenure.

“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement. “He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a dear friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”

Johnson finished his career with the infamous 0-16 Lions in 2008, appearing in 14 games and tallying 237 rushing yards.

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He tallied 5,979 rushing yards and 49 rushing touchdowns in his career, while adding 676 receiving yards and two receiving scores spanning 95 games.

The Virginia native landed in the NFL after a phenomenal junior season at Auburn following two years with Butler Community College in Kansas.

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Johnson rushed for 1,567 yards and 13 touchdowns, trailing only Tigers legend Bo Jackson at the time in terms of rushing yards in one season.

His rushing total ranked sixth in college football and earned him SEC Player of the Year honors.

The family source told TMZ that Johnson spent his last days helping those around him, and Johnson previously established the Rudi Johnson Foundation in 2005.

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“Mr. Johnson wanted to share his blessings with family and children in order to enhance ans (sic) stabilize their lives and to support learning opportunities for children that may not have been possible otherwise,” stated an article from mmhmf.org about Johnson’s mother, Janice.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.