Rudi Johnson (Michael E. Keating-Imagn Content Services, LLC)
Rudi Johnson is d3ad, and he has left a ton of heartbreak as a result.

The former Bengals player tragically passed away, according to the team. He was 45.

“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” said Bengals president Mike Brown. “He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a d3ar friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”

The Bengals confirmed Johnson’s d3ath, though they did not provide any details.

Unfortunately, it appears that Johnson went out on his own terms. A preliminary investigation revealed Johnson died by suicide, and no foul play is suspected.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office informed NBC News that it was investigating Rudi Johnson’s d3ath, with detective Joseph Peguero saying, “All indications are leading to suicide.”

Rudi Johnson Released an Uplifting Message Days Before His Suicide

Sept 23, 2007; Seattle, WA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (32) rushes against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of the Seahawks’ 24-21 victory at Qwest Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE
Rudi Johnson was a former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl running back who played for the Bengals for seven seasons and the Detroit Lions for one.

Just days before his untimely d3ath, he appeared in a video at a ceremony celebrating his induction into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame.

“I want to give a special shoutout to all the people who came before me, the alumni from Thomas Dale High School and Ettrick Trojans,” Johnson said in a taped message.

“Also, the same people that came after me. So, with that being said, I just want to say dream big, shoot for the stars, stay focused, never give up. And one more thing: For the all kids from Chesterfield County, I’ll be watching for the next star to be born.”

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

He also thanked his coach, who provided him with positive words that stuck.

“He told me to keep your head on straight, stay focused, and one day we’ll see you on ‘Monday Night Football,’” Johnson said. “I took those words of encouragement.

“Next stop up, before it was all said and done, me and coach and the rest of my teammates, we were able to win the first-ever Super Bowl championship trophy back for my beloved Ettrick Trojans. Which meant a great deal to me, my community, my friends, and everyone, and family.”

“My journey and my time at Thomas Dale High School, I cherished every moment of it. All four years was a different challenge,” Johnson said in his taped speech.

“We won a lot of games, and there was a lot of heartache at the end, but we didn’t pull through in the crunch time, but through the journey of them all, from Little League, from Ettrick, to Thomas Dale High School, it was all worth it and all of the relationships built along the way.”

Rudi Johnson attended Thomas Dale and Butler Community College in Kansas for two years. While playing for Auburn in 2000, he won SEC Player of the Year honors.

He produced the two most prolific single-season rushing totals in Bengals’ franchise history: 1,458 yards in 2005 and 1,454 yards in 2004.

In 2004, he earned a Pro Bowl nod.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.