Rudi Johnson cause of death: What we know as former Bengals star passes away at 45

Rudi Johnson, 45, the former Cincinnati Bengals running back, died by suicide in Florida at midnight on Tuesday, cops confirmed it to TMZ.

He had been facing challenges with his mental health and the potential impact of CTE, which he couldn't overcome, the report said, citing a family source mentioning that in the time leading up to his death, Johnson was fully committed to supporting others both on and off the field, something that meant the most to him.

Johnson was born on October 1, 1979, in Petersburg, Virginia. He rose to prominence at Auburn University, where his relentless work ethic earned him a reputation as one of the nation’s top running backs. His efforts caught the attention of the Cincinnati Bengals, who selected him in the 2001 NFL Draft. Over the next several years, Johnson became a mainstay in their backfield.

Johnson’s standout season came in 2004, when he rushed for 1,450 yards, a performance that, according to ESPN, marked the peak of his NFL career. That year, he helped propel the Bengals back into playoff contention and earned a Pro Bowl nod. Fans appreciated more than just his stats; his dependability shone through during a stretch of three consecutive seasons with over 1,300 rushing yards.

After playing in Cincinnati through the 2007 season, Johnson wrapped up his NFL career with the Detroit Lions in 2008. He had firmly cemented his status as one of the most dependable and productive mid-round draft picks of his time.

An article from mmhmf.org about Johnson's mother, Janice, read, “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.”

“My favorite Rudi Johnson game: 2003 v. Houston. Dillon hurt. Rudi carried it 43(!) times for like 180 yards. Felt like he lugged it on every down the final few drives. He was essentially the entire Bengals offense that day. No real long runs but just pounded away all afternoon at the Houston defense. Crowd that day was small but chanted “Rudi! “Rudi” like the entire second half,” wrote a third.