Former Bengals RB Rudi Johnson, Auburn Legend, Passes away at 45

Rudi Johnson, who is a former Cincinnati Bengals running back and Auburn standout, died at 45 as announced by the team on Tuesday.

The Bengals issued a statement in memory of Rudi Johnson, who was recalled by team president Mike Brown as a trusted star as well as a friend and favorite.
Rudi was a nice man and a great running back with us, said Brown. He was a reliable and productive player and extremely popular among his teammates. All people liked him and regarded him as a close friend. His death has crushed us greatly.

In 2001, Rudi Johnson became one of the most productive backs in the franchise history as he joined Cincinnati as a fourth-round pick at Auburn. His 5,742 yards in seven seasons with the Bengals was fourth-best in team history, and his 48 touchdowns are the third-best in history.

In 2003, 2004 and 2005, Rudi Johnson provided three consecutive seasons with precisely 12 rushing TDs. The year 2004 marked his most successful season when he rushed 1,454 yards and was selected to play in a Pro Bowl game.

His release in 2008 saw him play one last season with the Detroit lions where he notched up 237 rushing yards in 14 games.

Rudi Johnson created a watershed at Auburn before he joined NFL. His only season with the Tigers, in 2000, he was the player whose 324 carries, totaling 1,567 yards, was the fourth best single-season performance in the history of the school and earned him the SEC Offensive Player of the Year Award. On social media, Auburn paid him a tribute by saying he was one of the best to ever wear the orange and blue.

Johnson started his Auburn journey in the Butler Community College of Kansas where he spearheaded the program to two consecutive junior college national championship. In 2016, he was enrolled in the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame.