Rudi Johnson’s final chapter ends tragically at 45Former Bengals Star’s Death Highlights Mental Health Crisis in Professional SportsThe football world mourned Tuesday as news broke of Rudi Johnson’s unexpected death at age 45. His 2000 campaign proved legendary — 1,567 rushing yards across 12 games earned him SEC Player of the Year honors and catapulted him into NFL draft conversations. The Cincinnati Bengals selected Johnson in the fourth round of the 2001 draft, a decision that would reshape their offensive identity for nearly a decade. Johnson’s 1,458 rushing yards in 2005 remains the Bengals’ single-season franchise record — a testament to his durability and explosive running style that terrorized AFC North defenses. In 2005, his mother Janice Johnson established the Rudi Johnson Foundation, inspired by her son’s commitment to youth development and community service.