Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson passed away at the age of 45, as confirmed by the team, though the cause and exact date of his death were not disclosed. Johnson, a fourth-round pick in the 2001 NFL draft from Auburn, played seven seasons with the Bengals, starting 59 of 81 games and amassing 5,742 rushing yards, ranking fourth in franchise history, along with 48 rushing touchdowns, the third-most for the team.

He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2004 after rushing for 1,454 yards and scored 12 rushing touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. Bengals president Mike Brown praised Johnson’s dependability, productivity, and popularity among teammates, noting the deep sadness surrounding his passing.

After his release from Cincinnati in 2008, Johnson played one final season with the Detroit Lions, rushing for 237 yards in 14 games. Prior to his NFL career, Johnson was a standout at Auburn, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2000 with 1,567 rushing yards, and at Butler Community College, where he led the team to back-to-back national championships, later earning induction into the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Auburn honored him as “one of the best to ever wear the orange and blue.”