Former NFL running back Rudi Johnson, who holds the Cincinnati Bengals record for rushing yards in a season, has died at age 45, according to TMZ.
Johnson died by suicide early Tuesday, TMZ reported, citing police in Florida.
“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement posted on X by the team. “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 was a fourth-round pick of the Bengals out of Auburn in 2001.
In 2003 he gained 957 yards for the team, then established himself as a star. He rushed for more than 1,000 in the three next seasons ― 1,454 in 2004 to set a team record, 1,458 in 2005 to break his own mark, and 1,309 in 2006. He scored 12 touchdowns in each of those years.
