Former NFL defensive lineman Kevin Johnson was found dead Wednesday morning, January 21, at an unhoused encampment in South Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the county medical examiner. He was 55.
Per on-scene reporting from ABC 7 Eyewitness News, deputies responded shortly before 8 a.m. to a report of an unconscious man in the 1300 block of East 120th Street in the Willowbrook area. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later listed the cause of death as blunt head trauma and stab wounds, and ruled the manner of death a homicide. Investigators say the former football player had been living at the encampment.
Friends described Johnson as a generous presence who remained connected to his community despite facing significant health challenges later in life. Some close to him believe those issues may have been related to head trauma sustained during his football career.
“He was my best friend. I was best man at his wedding,” Bruce Todd told Eyewitness News. “Great guy, fun-loving. The community is going to miss him.”
Johnson was a Los Angeles native who played college football at Texas Southern University before reaching the NFL in the mid-1990s. He spent parts of three seasons in the league, suiting up for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders between 1995 and 1997.
During his time in Philadelphia, Johnson appeared in multiple games across two seasons, contributing as a rotational defensive lineman and recording several sacks.
After his NFL tenure, Johnson continued his football career in the Arena Football League, playing for the Orlando Predators and Los Angeles Avengers. He later earned an Arena Bowl title during his time in the league.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and tips can remain confidential.