The final moments of former NFL running back Rudi Johnson have been captured in chilling 911 calls released this week, shedding light on the tragedy that unfolded late last month in Florida.
According to police audio obtained by The New York Post, multiple residents of a Sunny Isles apartment building dialed 911 after hearing desperate cries for help just before midnight on September 22.
One caller told dispatchers she saw a man — later identified as Johnson — fall from a balcony into a pool.
“It’s the building in front of me. I just saw someone jump off the balcony into the pool,” the caller said. “There was multiple people on the balcony … somebody was screaming, saying, ‘Help me.’”
Another caller described the chaos in haunting detail. “I looked over and somebody was screaming, ‘Help me, help me!’ … so I looked over and I saw somebody just completely falling off the balcony,” she said.
In a separate audio, a different witness reported hearing a “huge … bang” after the screaming stopped. “I heard people screaming for help in the pool,” the caller told dispatchers. “And then a huge boom.”
Five separate calls were placed to emergency services, according to officials. First responders arrived quickly, but Johnson was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed that “no foul play is suspected” and deemed the case “unequivocally” a suicide.
Johnson, who would have turned 46 the day after his death, was remembered by family and friends with a memorial on Miami Beach.
Bengals owner Mike Brown issued a statement mourning the loss: “Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us. 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.”
Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Johnson became the team’s single-season rushing yards leader. He spent seven seasons with Cincinnati, appearing in 81 games and recording 5,979 rushing yards with 49 touchdowns. His standout year came in 2004, when he earned his lone Pro Bowl selection.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for support.