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  • Ex-Arsenal academy player dead at 21 after 'significant brain injury' sustained during match

    Ex-Arsenal academy player dead at 21 after 'significant brain injury' sustained during match

    A former Arsenal youth player has died after suffering a significant brain injury during an English non-league match on Saturday.

    Billy Vigar collided with a concrete wall during the game at Wingate and Finchley while attempting to keep a ball from going out of play, per ESPN.

    The 21-year-old was placed in an induced coma and underwent surgery Tuesday in hopes of aiding his recovery. However, Vigar died Thursday from his injuries.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    “It is with great sadness that Chichester City Football Club has to confirm the passing of Billy Vigar,” the club he was playing for said in a statement on social media. 

    “We request that his family’s privacy is respected at this most difficult time. Rest in peace Billy. Forever in the hearts of all at Chichester City Football Club.”

    MINOR LEAGUE HOCKEY PLAYER ORCA WIESBLATT DEAD AT 25 AFTER ‘TRAFFIC ACCIDENT’ IN CANADA

    Vigar’s death led Chichester City to postpone its scheduled match against Lewes on Saturday.

    His family released a statement through the club: “The responses to the original update show how much Billy was thought of and loved within the sport. His family are devastated that this has happened whilst he was playing the sport that he loved.”

    Vigar joined Arsenal’s academy in 2017 and signed a professional deal with the club in 2022.

    “Everyone at Arsenal is devastated by the shocking news that former academy graduate Billy Vigar has passed away,” Arsenal said in a statement. The club described him as a “powerful and versatile forward.” 

    “All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time. Rest in peace, Billy.”

    The Isthmian League Premier Division, the semi-professional league in which Chichester City plays, announced that a moment of silence would be observed before all matches this weekend. Players across the league will also wear black armbands to honor Vigar.

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  • Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson heartbroken after missing chance to wish former teammate Rudi Johnson final farewell

    Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson heartbroken after missing chance to wish former teammate Rudi Johnson final farewell

    Retired NFL wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson is grieving the loss of his former Cincinnati Bengals teammate, Rudi Johnson.

    Johnson died Tuesday in South Florida at age 45.

    During a recent episode of “Nightcap,” a podcast co-hosted by Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, Johnson reflected on the “great memories” he shared with the late running back. 

    “I just lost my dawg yesterday, Rudi Johnson,” the former Bengals star revealed. “Obviously, the great memories we had playing in Cincinnati and all that good stuff.”

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    Ochocinco and Johnson were both members of the 2001 NFL Draft class. Ochocinco was selected in the second round, while Johnson landed in the fourth round after earning Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors for his standout 2000 season at Auburn.

    They went on to play alongside one another in Cincinnati from 2001 to 2007.

    EX-BENGALS STAR RUDI JOHNSON DEAD AT 45

    Ochocinco said he was “upset” he did not have the opportunity to wish his friend a final farewell.

    “I’m kind of upset, I’m kind of hurt I wasn’t able to say goodbye to a good friend of mine,” he said. “It’s unfortunate. Young Rudi, boy, you’re gonna be missed. I love you.”

    TMZ Sports reported that Johnson experienced unspecified mental health problems prior to his death. The outlet added that a family source claimed that the former Bengals standout possibly battled Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

    A Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the investigation is being treated as a death by suicide and that there was no early evidence suggesting foul play.

    Bengals president Mike Brown paid tribute to Johnson, remembering him as someone who was greatly admired.

    “Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” 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.”

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  • Harris resurrects campaign word salad when concerned pregnant mom asks about raising a son under Trump

    Harris resurrects campaign word salad when concerned pregnant mom asks about raising a son under Trump

    NEW YORK — Former Vice President Kamala Harris tried to quell a nine-month-pregnant mom’s concerns over having a baby boy under the Trump administration, resurrecting a campaign phrase celebrating the “children of the community.”

    “Part of how I was raised to think about things was that the children of the community are our children of the community. And we all have some, I think, responsibility — you can call it a moral responsibility, you can think of it in different ways — but to be invested in their well-being and success,” Harris said Wednesday evening from The Town Hall theater venue in Midtown Manhattan. 

    Harris was in New York City to launch her book tour to promote “107 Days,” which offers a detailed and personal retelling of her days on the 2024 presidential campaign trail after then-President Joe Biden dropped out amid mounting concerns over his mental acuity. 

    KAMALA HARRIS’ BOOK, MEDIA TOUR SLAMMED BY LIBERAL CRITICS AS ‘EMBARRASSING’ AND ‘UNHELPFUL’

    Harris only took a couple questions from the audience, including one from a nine-month-pregnant mom who was concerned about raising a son with a “good heart and moral compass” under “this current political climate.”

    Harris quelled the mom’s concerns by reassuring her she would teach her son how to be “strong,” which would catapult him to “role model” status as an adult. 

    “To teach that our own children, that that is the way that we expect that they will live, which is to see the connection between themselves and others, to see the interdependence between themselves and others, and to have a sense of understanding that it’s a sign of strength to lift other people up,” she continued. 

    BERNIE URGED HARRIS TO FOCUS ‘ON THE WORKING CLASS, NOT JUST ON ABORTION,’ BOOK REVEALS

    Harris argued that President Donald Trump has a “perverse notion” that strength is measured by “who you beat down,” which she rejected. 

    “I used to talk about it a lot in those 107 days, which is this perverse notion that is absolutely being pushed by this guy in the White House, which is to suggest that the measure of strength is based on who you beat down,” she said. “Instead, what I think everyone here understands, which is the true measure of strength, is based on who you lift up.” 

    KAMALA HARRIS BREAKS SILENCE ON BIDEN DROPOUT, ADMITS SHE HAS REGRETS ABOUT HER HANDLING OF SITUATION

    Harris added that she was excited about the future of the unborn baby under his mom’s leadership. 

    “You’re going to teach him to be strong in every way that is important, and he will be a role model,” she continued. “And we are very, very excited for the future of that child.” 

    Harris repeatedly has used the phrase “the children of the community are the children of the community” while speaking during public events, including as vice president and when she was running for the presidency in 2024. 

    Conservative critics and others frequently mocked Harris’ “word salad” comments during the election cycle, including in September 2024 when she tied inflation to her “children of the community” phrase. 

    “I grew up understanding the children of the community are the children of the community, and we should all have a vested interest in ensuring that children can go grow up with the resources that they need to achieve their God-given potential,” Harris said, explaining she wanted to lower the cost of groceries for struggling families and vowing to take on big corporations who gouged customers. 

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    Harris kicked off her book tour in New York City before traveling to cities from coast to coast to promote her new book, which was released Tuesday. 

    Her roughly hourlong conversation Wednesday evening included taking a few shots at Trump, as well as celebrating how former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton served as her mentor and supporter throughout the 2024 election. 

  • Comey indictment sparks fierce political reactions nationwide

    Comey indictment sparks fierce political reactions nationwide

    James Comey, the former FBI Director, was indicted on felony charges of obstruction and perjury Thursday, igniting fierce reactions across the nation and political spectrum.

    The charges, announced by the newly appointed U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan in the Eastern District of Virginia, are in relation to his 2020 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

    Halligan framed the indictment as a matter of accountability, declaring it “a breach of public trust at an extraordinary level” and emphasizing that “no one is above the law.” 

    If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison.

    IN TRYING TO SECURE COMEY INDICTMENT, US PROSECUTORS HAVE SHORT WINDOW — AND A DIFFICULT CASE TO MAKE

    The announcement sparked reaction with the fastest coming through from the president and his allies.

    President Donald Trump has long demanded Comey’s prosecution and since firing him in 2017 and railing against the Russia investigation he oversaw.

    Trump celebrated the news with a triumphant post on his Truth Social account.

    “JUSTICE IN AMERICA! One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI. Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts. He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” the president wrote.

    FBI LAUNCHES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF JOHN BRENNAN, JAMES COMEY: DOJ SOURCES

    Attorney General Pam Bondi also issued a sharp statement on X declaring, “No one is above the law. The American people deserve justice after years of lies and political interference.”

    FBI Director Kash Patel amplified that opinion and cast the indictment as part of a broader effort to restore trust in the Bureau. 

    “Today, your FBI took another step in its promise of full accountability,” he wrote. 

    “For far too long, corrupt leadership weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and eroding public trust. Under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on. No one is above the law.”

    U.S. Senator John Cornyn responded noting the gravity of Comey’s offenses.

    “While our legal system provides for the presumption of innocence, Comey’s accountability for FBI abuses during the first Trump term are long overdue,” he said. “These charges are serious offenses, especially if committed by the head of our nation’s top law enforcement agency, and there must be consequences for any crimes.”

    LISA BOOTHE POINTS TO ‘CLEAR EXAMPLE’ OF COMEY, BRENNAN’S ‘COLLUSION AND CORRUPTION’

    Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called it “a long-awaited correction to years of corruption and cover-ups,” while economic adviser Peter Navarro said it proved “justice delayed is not justice denied.”

    Democrats condemned the charges as politically motivated. 

    Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) denounced what he called a “malicious prosecution,” reminding reporters that Trump previously fired a prosecutor who refused to bring “frivolous charges.”

    Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued an even sharper rebuke. 

    “This kind of interference is a dangerous abuse of power,” he warned. “By ousting a respected, independent prosecutor and replacing him with a partisan loyalist, Trump is undermining one of the most important U.S. Attorney’s offices in the country and eroding the rule of law itself.”

  • Texas executes man who killed toddler during 30-hour ‘exorcism’

    Texas executes man who killed toddler during 30-hour ‘exorcism’

    A Texas man was executed Thursday for murdering his girlfriend’s 13-month-old daughter in what prosecutors described as a brutal, 30-hour “exorcism.”

    Blaine Milam, 35, was convicted of killing 13-month-old Amora Carson in December 2008 after attempting to expel a demon from her body inside his trailer in Rusk County, east of Dallas, according to the Associated Press.

    He was pronounced dead by lethal injection at 6:40 p.m. at the state penitentiary in Huntsville.

    The Associated Press reported that prison officials said Milam appeared anxious when he arrived at the Huntsville Unit prison early Thursday afternoon, adding he said he had a headache. He was then placed into a small holding cell adjacent to the death chamber.

    TEXAS MAN TO BE EXECUTED FOR ‘EXORCISM’ MURDER OF GIRLFRIEND’S TODDLER DAUGHTER

    When asked if he wished to make a final statement, Milam thanked his supporters and the prison chaplaincy for opening its faith-based programs to death row inmates.

    “If any of you would like to see me again, I implore all of you, no matter who you are, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and we will meet again,” Milam said from the death chamber gurney. “I love you all. Bring me home, Jesus.”

    The lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital started flowing into his right hand and left arm at 6:19 p.m. local time.

    The AP reported that Milam grunted and gasped once before snoring quietly. Nearly two minutes later, all movement and sounds stopped and Milam was pronounced dead. 

    ALABAMA INMATE’S EXECUTION STAYED TO DETERMINE IF HE IS COMPETENT ENOUGH TO BE PUT TO DEATH

    Prosecutors said Milam beat the toddler with a hammer, then strangled, bit and mutilated her.

    “Amora was subjected to unspeakable violence over the course of 30 hours,” prosecutors wrote in court filings, noting the child suffered skull fractures, broken bones and dozens of bite marks.

    Milam maintained his innocence over the years, though his appeals were repeatedly denied. He claimed his then-girlfriend, Jesseca Carson, insisted the child was possessed and that he only followed her lead.

    ‘GO BIG OR GO HOME’: DISTURBING CONFESSION FROM HUSBAND WHO ALLEGEDLY MURDERED WIFE AND CONCEALED HER BODY

    Carson was later convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole.

    His attorneys argued he should be spared, citing unreliable bite-mark evidence and questions about his intellectual disability. His execution was scheduled in 2019 and 2021 but delayed as courts reviewed those claims.

    The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled the execution should proceed, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles denied his clemency request.

    The AP reported that Milam’s trial was moved to Montgomery County, more than 140 miles south, because of intense publicity.

    Texas remains the nation’s leading death-penalty state.

    Fox News Digital’s Christina Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

  • Bill Maher believes this outsider could be the key to restore the Democratic Party's credibility with voters

    Bill Maher believes this outsider could be the key to restore the Democratic Party's credibility with voters

    Talk show host Bill Maher argued on Thursday that the Democratic Party’s brand is so tarnished in the eyes of voters that it needs a total outsider like sports commentator Stephen A. Smith to redeem it.

    During an interview on Smith’s “Straight Shooter” podcast, the host, who has flirted with running for the presidency, asked Maher, “Who’s the candidate on the left that can somehow derail [Trump]? Because I don’t see anybody with a national presence that can pull that off. Where are you on that?”

    “I see somebody right here in my Zoom camera,” Maher replied.

    Smith denied that he would run, saying he is too careful about giving up his money, but Maher pressed his case, arguing the Democratic Party is a “ghost brand,” like one of the major chain stores once ubiquitous in shopping malls who have struggled in recent times, but still are remembered by the public. Like these stores, Maher argued, it would take “an outsider” who has no sentimental attachment to the Democratic Party’s past who could redeem it.

    STEPHEN A. SMITH CALLS OUT DEMS LIKE AOC AND JASMINE CROCKETT AS BAD LOOK FOR FACE OF THE PARTY

    “But it would have to be somebody who is unapologetic about calling them out. People have lost faith in the Democratic Party for very good reasons. And you’re the only one I hear who doesn’t look like he cares what the other Democrats will say about it,” Maher said.

    “I don’t care. I really don’t,” Smith agreed. “I don’t give a damn what they say. I really don’t.”

    “I know,” Maher agreed, “I don’t either. I’m right where you are. We’re very close on all these things. And I think somebody with that kind of abandon is the only person who is going to win back former Democratic voters who have switched over.”

    CHARLAMAGNE, STEPHEN A. SMITH MOCK HARRIS FOR SAYING ‘SYSTEM IS BROKEN’ AFTER THRIVING IN IT FOR DECADES

    Maher also praised Newsom’s ability to move to the center on issues, but warned he would have to do so “a lot more” to be viable and to separate his image from being associated with far-left policies in California. 

    “Do you think a far-lefty can win a national election in this day and age? A presidential election?,” Smith asked before saying he didn’t think so. 

    “I don’t think so either,” Maher agreed.

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  • City council member resigns after going viral on Libs of TikTok for vile comment made to Trump supporter

    Bree Danyele Montoya, a city councilmember representing Norman, Oklahoma‘s Ward 3, resigned effective immediately on Tuesday after a Facebook comment she wrote telling a Trump supporter to harm herself resurfaced and went viral when shared by Libs of TikTok.

    The resignation followed months of inaction from the city council, critics say, until the exchange gained national traction online. The city of Norman has since emphasized that while elected officials speak for themselves, it “does not support actions or behaviors that may encourage harm.”

    “In various capacities, I have served this community since 2008, and I am ready to pursue other interests. Effective immediately, I am resigning as councilmember for Ward 3. Thank you, Ward 3!” Montoya said at the meeting.

    The recipient of Montoya’s comments, constituent Audra Abbott, told FOX affiliate KOKH she was shocked when she realized who had written them. 

    “I saw that she was a city council member within moments of her posting it, and I was like, wow, I can’t believe that an elected official would talk like that online,” she said.

    DEARBORN MAYOR REFUSES TO APOLOGIZE FOR TELLING CHRISTIAN MINISTER HE WAS ‘NOT WELCOME HERE’

    Abbott added, “If it hadn’t went viral with Libs of TikTok picking it up, I don’t think that anything would have happened at all.”

    Chaya Raichik, who runs Libs of TikTok, told Fox News Digital, “With a rising trend of violent left-wing extremists targeting conservatives, it is our duty to hold elected officials, such as Oklahoma City Councilor Bree Montoya, accountable for violent rhetoric, regardless of their status or position.” 

    Raichik also said, “While the fake news media refuses to acknowledge the truth of the rising epidemic of far-left violence, Libs of TikTok will continue to expose elected leaders who promote violence, demonize ICE, or issue threatening statements against the American people.”

    NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI DEFENDS PAST TWEETS, SAYS CUOMO ATTACKING ‘MYTHICAL VERSION’ OF HIM

    In an email to Fox News Digital, Norman Chief Communications Officer Tiffany Martinez Vrska said, “The City of Norman as a municipal corporation does not support actions or behaviors that may encourage harm; carrying out municipal functions that provide or support public service remains the focus of the corporation.” 

    She added that elected officials speak only for themselves when making personal remarks. Officials pointed to resources explaining Norman’s council–manager government structure and how the Ward 3 vacancy will be filled in the coming weeks.

    The online clash dates back to June, when Montoya and Abbott argued on Facebook about the size of a “No Kings” protest. Montoya called Abbott “uneducated” and escalated by telling her to harm herself. 

    Screenshots of the exchange spread in local Facebook groups during the summer before Libs of TikTok recently amplified them on social media. Abbott and others say Norman officials ignored the controversy until the post gained traction online. Montoya was first elected in 2023, re-elected in February 2025, sworn in again July 1, and resigned less than three months later.

    At the Sept. 23 meeting, Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman addressed the incident.

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    “As your mayor, I want to affirm our commitment to upholding the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The right to free speech is fundamental to our democracy, and it is our responsibility to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to express their opinions and be heard,” the mayor said.

    “While we honor the right to free speech, we must also maintain an environment that is respectful, orderly and conducive to productive discussion,” Holman added. “My goal is to ensure that every voice in this room can be heard while maintaining the integrity and decorum of our meetings. I ask for your cooperation and mutual respect as we continue to work together for the betterment of Norman.”

  • Tim Allen says Erika Kirk's memorial speech inspired him to forgive his father's killer

    Tim Allen says Erika Kirk's memorial speech inspired him to forgive his father's killer

    Tim Allen is speaking out about how Erika Kirk’s memorial speech “deeply affected” him.

    On Thursday, Allen took to X to share that he was personally moved by Kirk’s forgiveness of the man who allegedly killed her husband, Charlie Kirk, since forgiveness has not been as easy for him to give.

    “When Erika Kirk spoke the words on the man who killed her husband: ‘That man… that young man… I forgive him.’ That moment deeply affected me.”

    ERIKA KIRK’S FORGIVENESS OF HUSBAND’S ALLEGED KILLER SPARKS WIDESPREAD ADMIRATION

    “I have struggled for over 60 years to forgive the man who killed my Dad. I will say those words now as I type: ‘I forgive the man who killed my father.’ Peace be with you all,” Allen wrote.

    Allen’s father died in 1978 after a drunk driver collided into his vehicle. Allen was 11-years-old at the time of his father’s death.

    At Charlie’s memorial service on Sunday, Erika publicly forgave Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old who is accused of killing the Turning Point USA founder.

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    Charlie “wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” she said. 

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    “Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.’ That young man … I forgive him,” Erika said. “I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.”

    Charlie was assassinated at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 in Orem, Utah. 

    Robinson was arrested and is facing several charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and violent offense in the presence of a child.

  • Ryder Cup to make long-awaited NYC metro return as Europe eyes rare back-to-back triumph on American soil

    Ryder Cup to make long-awaited NYC metro return as Europe eyes rare back-to-back triumph on American soil

    For the first time since 1935 at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey, the Ryder Cup will be played in the New York City metro area, as Team USA and Team Europe will spend the weekend at the famed Bethpage Black on Long Island.

    It was announced that this year’s Ryder Cup would take place at Bethpage Black, famously recommended “only for highly skilled golfers,” on Sept. 17, 2013. Originally, this was supposed to be the 2024 Ryder Cup, but the pandemic postponed the 2020 Ryder Cup, pushing back each of the following events.

    This was actually the second time the Ryder Cup had been delayed, the first being in 2001 due to the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Thus, the Ryder Cup, which originally was planned to take place in odd-numbered years, has reverted to its old ways. 

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

    Now, after nearly 12 years since the announcement, golfers will finally tee off shortly after 7 a.m. ET on Friday. NBC, USA and Peacock will be streaming the events.

    The Ryder Cup began in 1927, originally as a competition between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. But the Americans dominated, and Jack Nicklaus was part of expanding the overseas team to include all of Europe beginning in 1979, changing the tournament forever.

    The change brought in legends like Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle, and Europe became a legitimate force. Since the expansion, there have been 22 Ryder Cups, and Europe has a 12-9-1 record in that span — and that includes USA winning the first three Ryder Cups since the European expansion.

    The biennial match-play tournament is a three-day event with five different sessions. Friday and Saturday see four fourball matches and four alternate-shot matches, split between the morning and afternoon. On Sunday, all 24 players go one-on-one in singles matches.

    TRUMP’S RYDER CUP PRESEBCE ‘EXTREMELY IMPORTANT’ AFTER ‘TOUGH FEW WEEKS,’ SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER SAYS

    A total of 28 points are up for grabs, so a team needs 14.5 points in order to win the Ryder Cup. However, since Team Europe won the last event, a tie would result in them retaining the trophy until 2027.

    Team USA, captained by Keegan Bradley, consists of Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young, Ben Griffin, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns. Bradley had the opportunity to select himself, but ultimately chose not to.

    Luke Donald is bringing back just about his entire winning team from 2023. The only difference is Rasmus Hojgaard taking the place of his twin brother, Nicolai. Hojgaard will join Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm.

    Team Europe has a chance to break a pair of streaks, as no team has won back-to-back Ryder Cups since Europe won three straight from 2010 to 2014. That 2012 European team also remains the last to win a Ryder Cup on the road.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

  • Ex-NFL star Rudi Johnson's inspiring message to Virginia youth days before death revealed: 'I'll be watching'

    Ex-NFL star Rudi Johnson's inspiring message to Virginia youth days before death revealed: 'I'll be watching'

    Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson shared an inspiring message with young athletes in his home state of Virginia just days before he reportedly died by suicide. 

    Johnson, 45, was inducted into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 18 as a graduate of Thomas Dale High School and a product of the Ettrick Trojans of the Chesterfield Quarterback League.

    The former NFL star shared an inspiring message in a video played at the induction ceremony, where he thanked past coaches and teammates and shared the advice and encouragement he received over the years. 

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    “I want to give a special shoutout to all the people who came before me, the alumni from Thomas Dale High School and Ettrick Trojans,” he said in the video, according to the New York Post. 

    “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.”

    Johnson was a standout running back for the Auburn Tigers before the Bengals selected him in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons with the Bengals and one with the Detroit Lions. He was a Pro Bowler with Cincinnati in 2004.

    EX-BENGALS STAR RUDI JOHNSON DEAD AT 45

    “Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” Bengals president 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.”

    Johnson appeared in 81 games for the Bengals from 2001 to 2007. He started every game for Cincinnati in 2004 and rushed for 1,454 yards and 12 touchdowns on his way to his lone Pro Bowl selection. That started a string of three consecutive years in which he rushed for at least 1,000 yards.

    TMZ Sports first reported Johnson’s death. Police told the outlet he died by suicide just after midnight on Tuesday.

    Fox News Digital’s Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. 

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