Just days before his death, former NFL running back Rudi Johnson delivered an uplifting message to young athletes in his hometown, words of encouragement that now ring with heartbreaking weight.
In a video recorded for his induction into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame, Johnson celebrated the community that raised him and urged local youth to stay focused and believe in themselves.
“I want to give a special shutout to all the people who came before me, the alumni from Thomas Dale High School and Ettrick Trojans,” Johnson said in the 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.”
Tragically, just days later, Johnson was found dead in Florida early Tuesday morning in what police have reported as an apparent suicide. He was 45 years old.
From Virginia Roots to NFL Stardom
Born and raised in Ettrick, Virginia, Johnson began his football journey with the Ettrick Trojans of the Chesterfield Quarterback League.
It was there that a youth coach gave him words of advice that stuck with him for life.
“He told me to keep your head on straight, stay focused and one day we’ll see you on ‘Monday Night Football,'” Johnson recalled.
“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.”
He went on to become a local star at Thomas Dale High School, where he credited coaches like Vic Williams and Henry Jefferson for shaping his mentality.
“My journey and my time at Thomas Dale High School I cherished every moment of it,” he said. “All four years was a different challenge… from Little League, from Ettrick, to Thomas Dale High School, it was all worth it and all of the relationships built along the way.”
After two standout seasons at Butler Community College in Kansas, Johnson transferred to Auburn University, where he earned SEC Player of the Year honors in 2000.
He then launched an eight-year NFL career, most notably with the Cincinnati Bengals.
He remains one of the most productive backs in Bengals history, holding the top two spots for single-season rushing yards and ranking fourth all-time in total rushing yards.
“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said in a statement.
“He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a dear friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”
According to a report from TMZ, Johnson had been privately struggling with mental health challenges and possible symptoms of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma in football players.
His death has reignited conversations around mental health support and long-term care for former athletes.
While the football world mourns the loss of a beloved teammate and community figure, Rudi Johnson‘s final message, to dream big and never give up, remains a powerful reminder of the hope he carried, even in his darkest moments.
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