Rudi Johnson was an American professional football player who played as a running back primarily for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. He was born on October 1, 1979, and passed away on September 23, 2025, at the age of 45. Johnson played college football at Auburn University, where he was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2004. Johnson was known for his hard-nosed running style and set the Bengals' single-season rushing record, which he still held at the time of his death. He played eight seasons in the NFL, most notably for the Bengals from 2001 to 2007, and finished his career with the Detroit Lions in 2008. Johnson was highly regarded in his community, having started playing football at age six, and was inducted into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame shortly before his passing. He was remembered not only for his athletic achievements but also as a strong family man and a beloved teammate and friend. His cause of death was not immediately known, and his passing was mourned by former teammates, fans, and his high school community in Chesterfield County, Virginia, where he grew up and attended Thomas Dale High School.
