Remembering Rudi Johnson, NFL Great Who Passed Away at 45

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Rudi Johnson tragically ended his life in Florida. The former running back for the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson's passing was confirmed by a family source to TMZ Sports. While the specifics surrounding his death remain unclear, it's known that he had been grappling with mental health challenges and the potential effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which he struggled to manage.The family source emphasized that Johnson was deeply committed to helping others, both on the field and in everyday life. He was just forty-five years old.Initially, Johnson had a slow start in Cincinnati, where he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. However, his third season marked a turning point as he accumulated over 4,000 yards and scored 36 touchdowns in a remarkable resurgence. Following a stint with the Detroit Lions in 2008, his NFL journey concluded. Before his professional career, Johnson was a standout at Auburn University, earning the title of SEC Player of the Year.