NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore, who last played for the Minnesota Vikings, was discovered dead on Saturday night in Indiana. He was just 25 years old. The Floyd County Coroner, Matthew Tomlin, confirmed the death but did not provide further details about the circumstances. He stated that there was no threat to the public and that an autopsy would be performed on Sunday.
Moore, known for his versatility as a receiver and return specialist, was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft, being the 49th overall pick, after an impressive college career at Purdue University. He spent his initial three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before moving to the Atlanta Falcons. However, his time with the Falcons was marred by injury; he dislocated his right knee during training camp in 2024 and did not play for the team. Moore attempted to make a comeback with the Vikings in 2025 but suffered another injury while returning a punt in his preseason debut.
During his freshman year at Purdue in 2018, Moore delivered one of the most electrifying performances in college football history. He accumulated 2,048 all-purpose yards and earned numerous accolades, including:
- Consensus First-Team All-American
- Paul Hornung Award for the nation”s most versatile player
- Paul Warfield Trophy for the top wide receiver
- Big Ten Receiver of the Year
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year
In the wake of his passing, tributes have poured in from various figures. Jeff Brohm, head coach at the University of Louisville and Moore”s coach at Purdue, expressed his admiration in a statement: “Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach. The ultimate competitor who wouldn”t back down from any challenge. Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale; we loved his smile and his competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact with. We offer all our thoughts and prayers to Rondale and his family. We love him very much.”
