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The NFL community is grappling with yet another heartbreaking loss, as the promising wide receiver Rondale Moore has tragically passed away. Found dead in his Indiana home from a gunshot wound, it appears that Moore’s death may be a case of suicide. This devastating event casts a somber spotlight on the growing concerns surrounding the mental health and well-being of young athletes in the league.
Rondale Moore was discovered in his residence on the evening of February 21, with local news outlets beginning to report the story soon after. The police in New Albany, Indiana, later confirmed that the 25-year-old found deceased was indeed Moore, a former standout player for the Minnesota Vikings.
As the NFL family mourns the loss of Rondale Moore, the conversation around mental health and the pressures faced by professional athletes continues to gain importance. Moore’s passing is not just a personal tragedy but a collective call to action to ensure that these young talents receive the help and care they need to thrive, both on and off the field.
Rondale Moore dead at 25
Rondale Moore, a standout college football star and NFL wide receiver, has died. Reports of Moore’s death trickled in on the evening of February 21, when several local news stations reported that a 25-year-old  had been found dead inside a home in Indiana. Police in New Albany, Indiana, later confirmed Moore was the deceased individual.
According to WHAS 11, Moore was found inside the garage of his home with a gunshot wound. The injury appeared to be self-inflicted, but a complete autopsy was scheduled for February 22. The NFL has issued a statement following the announcement of Rondale Moore’s death. Several NFL players have also taken to social media to pay tribute to their late teammate and friend.
Moore, a high school and college standout, was drafted 49th overall in the 2021 NFL draft. He was a breakout star during his first season with the Arizona Cardinals. He played for the Cardinals through the 2023 season before he was traded to the Falcons. Moore suffered multiple injuries before joining the Minnesota Vikings for the 2025 season. He suffered a season-ending injury before playing a regular-season snap for the team, though. It’s unclear what his plans were for the 2026 NFL season.
Moore’s death comes just months after Marshawn Kneeland’s tragic passing
Rondale Moore’s death at 25 is hitting the NFL especially hard. It comes just a few months after several other high-profile deaths, including Marshawn Kneeland’s. Kneeland, a standout for the Dallas Cowboys, died by suicide after a police chase on November 6, 2025. Kneeland had significant mental health concerns before his death, with his girlfriend sounding the alarm with police after she and Kneeland’s family received troubling texts from the NFL star.
Kneeland’s death followed the rather mysterious death of former NFL running back Doug Martin. Martin, 36, died in October 2025, while in police custody. According to the Mercury News, police arrested Martin during a break-in, but he became unresponsive and later died. He had previously checked into rehab and had a stay in a psychiatric facility after his 2019 retirement. His cause of death has not been made public.
Kneeland, Moore, and Martin’s deaths are all leading to growing concerns around mental health in the NFL and how head trauma is negatively impacting longtime players.