View source for Rudi Johnson

{{Short description|American football player (1979–2025)}}
{{distinguish|text=the American football player in the 1960s, [[Rudy Johnson]]}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Rudi Johnson
| image       = Rudi Johnson 2007.jpg
| caption     = Johnson with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] in 2007
| number      = 32
| position    = [[Running back]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1979|10|1|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Ettrick, Virginia]], U.S.<ref name=pfr_profile>{{cite web |author=<!-- Not stated --> |access-date=September 25, 2025 |title=Rudi Johnson |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRu00.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827092309/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRu00.htm |archive-date=August 27, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2025|9|23|1979|10|1|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Miami-Dade County, Florida]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 10
| weight_lbs  = 225
| high_school = [[Thomas Dale High School|Thomas Dale]] {{nowrap|([[Chester, Virginia]])}}
| college     = {{ubl|[[Butler Grizzlies|Butler CC]] (1998–1999)|[[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] (2000)}}
| draftyear   = 2001
| draftround  = 4
| draftpick   = 100
| pastteams   =
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2007}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2008}})
| highlights  =
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2005 Pro Bowl|2004]])
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[2000 College Football All-America Team|2000]])
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|SEC Player of the Year]] (2000)
* First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[2000 All-SEC football team|2000]])
| statlabel1  = [[Carry (gridiron football)|Rushing attempts]]
| statvalue1  = 1,517
| statlabel2  = [[Rushing yards]]
| statvalue2  = 5,979
| statlabel3  = [[Touchdown|Rushing touchdowns]]
| statvalue3  = 49
| statlabel4  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4  = 113
| statlabel5  = [[Receiving yards]]
| statvalue5  = 676
| statlabel6  = [[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
| statvalue6  = 2
| pfr         = J/JohnRu00
}}

'''Burudi Ali Johnson'''<ref name="BBCObit">{{cite web |last=McKenna |first=Lorraine |date=2025-09-23 |title=Rudi Johnson: Former Cincinnati Bengals running back dies aged 45 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/articles/cp987d0xn4eo |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> (October 1, 1979 – September 23, 2025) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] for eight seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), primarily with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]] and was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the [[2001 NFL draft]].

Johnson was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] with the Bengals in [[2005 Pro Bowl|2004]] after leading the team in rushing. He employed a bruising style of hard-nosed running that earned him the nickname the "Auburn Rambler."

==Early life==
Johnson was born in [[Ettrick, Virginia]], on October 1, 1979.<ref name=pfr_profile/> He began playing football at the age of six with the Ettrick Trojans of the Chesterfield Quarterback League.<ref name="chesterfield">{{cite web |author=<!-- Not stated --> |date=June 17, 2025 |title=[ARCHIVED] Chesterfield Announces Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025 |url=https://www.chesterfield.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=6184&ARC=16436 |website=Chesterfield.gov |access-date=September 25, 2025}}</ref> During his [[high school football|high school]] career, he played on both offense and defense for the [[Thomas Dale High School|Thomas Dale Knights]]<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- Not stated --> |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Thomas Dale's Ring of Champions |url=https://www.progress-index.com/story/sports/high-school/cross-country/2018/02/10/thomas-dale-s-ring-champions/15171343007/?gnt-cfr=1 |website=The Progress-Index |access-date=September 25, 2025}}</ref> under head coach Victor Williams, following in the footsteps of [[Ken Oxendine]]<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- Not stated --> |access-date=September 25, 2025 |title=Ken Oxendine |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OxenKe00.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823024753/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OxenKe00.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[William Henderson (American football)|William Henderson]].<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- Not stated --> |access-date=September 25, 2025 |title=William Henderson |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HendWi00.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222043657/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HendWi00.htm |archive-date=February 22, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> During his career, he broke the school's rushing record which was held by his friend, mentor and coach, Henry Jefferson.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

After graduation, he enrolled at [[Butler Community College]] in [[El Dorado, Kansas]].<ref name="chesterfield"/>

==College career==
Johnson played for two years at [[Butler Community College]]. He helped lead Butler to two national championships, defeating [[Ricks College]] in 1998 and [[Utah Tech University|Dixie College]] in 1999. His most memorable performance came against Dixie College in the championship game in which he ran for 375 yards and scored seven touchdowns. He was subsequently named  NJCAA "Player of the Year". Johnson was subsequently inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 1, 2011 |title=National Players of the Year |url=https://www.butlergrizzlies.com/sports/fball/National_Players_of_the_Year |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Butler Grizzlies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 24, 2016 |title=Butler legends among NJCAA Football HOF inductees |url=https://njcaa.org/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/-8-24-16-_2015_FOOT_HOF |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=NJCAA |language=en}}</ref>

At [[Auburn University]], Johnson finished his career with 324 rushing attempts for 1,567 yards (4.84 yards per rush average). His 324 rushing attempts was a school single-season record and his 1,567 rushing yards were the second-most in school history. He had ten games in which he rushed for 100 yards or more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudi Johnson College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rudi-johnson-1.html|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006105658/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rudi-johnson-1.html |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Sports Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He was named [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|SEC Player of the Year]] and nominated for the [[Doak Walker Award]], which was won by [[LaDainian Tomlinson]]. He was a [[sociology]] major. His [[fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]] was [[Heath Evans]], who would later go onto the NFL as well. NFL running back [[Ronnie Brown]] was also a teammate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Clifton |title=Two Backs From Auburn Embody the Depth in the Draft |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/17/sports/football/two-backs-from-auburn-embody-the-depth-in-the-draft.html |access-date=July 21, 2017 |website=New York Times|date=April 17, 2005}}</ref>

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 5
|    height in = 9 5/8
|       weight = 227
|         dash = 4.57
|    ten split = 1.60
| twenty split = 2.56
|      shuttle = 4.22
|   cone drill = 7.32
|     vertical = 37.5
|     broad ft = 9
|     broad in = 11
|        bench = 24
|    wonderlic = 
|     arm span = 30 1/2
|    hand span = 9
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudi Johnson Draft Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=958&DraftYear=2001 |website=NFLDraftScout.com}}</ref>
}}

===Cincinnati Bengals===
The [[Cincinnati Bengals]] selected Johnson in the fourth round (100th overall) of the [[2001 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/draft.htm |access-date=March 18, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Johnson saw little playing time in his first two NFL seasons. He backed up four-time [[Pro Bowl]]er [[Corey Dillon]], the Bengals' leading rusher since [[1997 Cincinnati Bengals season|1997]], and had just 17 carries and seven receptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 Cincinnati Bengals Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/2001.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 Cincinnati Bengals Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/2002.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Dillon missed much of the [[2003 Cincinnati Bengals season|2003 season]] with injuries, and Johnson found himself in the [[starting lineup]]. In a Week 10 victory over the Houston Texans, Johnson had a career-high 43 carries for 182 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals – November 9th, 2003 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200311090cin.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In a Week 15 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, he had 21 carries for 174 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals – December 14th, 2003 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200312140cin.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Overall, he rushed for 957 yards and nine touchdowns, while adding another 146 yards on 21 receptions in just nine games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudi Johnson 2003 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRu00/gamelog/2003/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

After Dillon was traded to the [[New England Patriots]] following the [[2003 Cincinnati Bengals season|2003 season]], Johnson was named the starter. He started every game in the 2004 season. In Week 12, against the Cleveland Browns, he had 26 carries for a career-high 202 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 58–48 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – November 28th, 2004 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200411280cin.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In the regular season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had three rushing touchdowns in the 38–10 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles – January 2nd, 2005 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200501020phi.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He set a franchise rushing record with 1,454 yards. In addition, he scored 12 touchdowns and was named to the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] [[Pro Bowl]] team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudi Johnson 2004 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRu00/gamelog/2004/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/probowl.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Johnson was a major contributor in the [[2005 Cincinnati Bengals season|2005 season]], in which the Bengals reached the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Johnson remained the starter as a punishing runner providing the running game needed to complement quarterback [[Carson Palmer]] and wide receiver [[Chad Johnson (American football)|Chad Johnson]] (Ochocinco). [[Chris Perry (American football)|Chris Perry]], former [[University of Michigan]] running back, joined the backfield as the Bengals' first round pick in the [[2004 NFL draft]]. In a Week 14 victory over the Cleveland Browns, he had 30 carries for 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – December 11th, 2005 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200512110cin.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> At the end of the season, the Bengals finished with an 11–5 record, an [[AFC North]] Division title, and the team's first winning season since [[1990 Cincinnati Bengals season|1990]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 Cincinnati Bengals Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/2005.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/index.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/index.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Johnson broke his own franchise record with 1,458 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while also recording a career-high 23 receptions for 90 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudi Johnson 2005 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRu00/gamelog/2005/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Johnson scored a rushing touchdown in his playoff debut, a 31–17 loss to the [[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the [[2005–06 NFL playoffs#AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Cincinnati Bengals 17|Wild Card Round]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals – January 8th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200601080cin.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In Week 2 of the 2006 season, Johnson had 26 carries for 145 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a 34–17 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – September 17th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200609170cin.htm |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In the 2006 season, Johnson had 341 carries for 1,309 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 16 games and 15 starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudi Johnson 2006 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRu00/gamelog/2006/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

During the [[2007 Cincinnati Bengals season|2007 season]], Johnson missed five games to injury, and he had only one game in which he rushed for over 100 yards, a Week 2 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He finished the season with 497 yards on 170 carries for three touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudi Johnson 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRu00/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2008, it was reported that the [[Cincinnati Bengals|Bengals]] were interested in trading Johnson for a "top receiver" to shore up their injured receiving corps, which would leave Chris Perry as the new feature back and either [[Kenny Watson (American football)|Kenny Watson]] or [[DeDe Dorsey]] as his backup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bengals Shopping Rudi Johnson |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/thewire/football/nfl/2008/08/26/bengals_shopping_rudi/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901192244/http://www.sportsnet.ca/thewire/football/nfl/2008/08/26/bengals_shopping_rudi/ |archive-date=September 1, 2008 |access-date=August 26, 2008}}</ref> Bengals head coach [[Marvin Lewis]] denied any trade talks involving Johnson. "It's a rumor," he stated.<ref>[http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/SPT02/308260039 Lewis: Rudi Johnson trade talk 'a rumor']</ref> However, on August 27, Johnson stated he expected to be gone "any minute."<ref>[http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/SPT02/808270368/1066 Rudi: I'll be gone 'any minute']</ref> After a trade fell through, Johnson was released by the team on August 30 during the final roster cuts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clayton |first=John |date=August 30, 2008|agency=Associated Press |title=Bengals terminate contract of halfback Johnson |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/trainingcamp08/news/story?id=3561014 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Detroit Lions===
Johnson signed a one-year deal with the [[Detroit Lions]] on September 1, 2008. The Lions released [[running back]] [[Tatum Bell]] to make room for Johnson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kowalski |first=Tom |date=September 2, 2008 |title=Lions sign Rudi Johnson, cut Tatum Bell |url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2008/09/rudi_johnson_signs_with_lions.html |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=mlive.com |language=en}}</ref> The following day, Johnson accused Bell of stealing his luggage, although Bell insisted "it was just an honest mistake."<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2008 |title=New Lions RB Johnson says Bell stole his luggage |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3567561 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> In one season with the Lions, Johnson had 237 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 88 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudi Johnson 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRu00/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The 2008 season was Johnson's last in the NFL.<ref name=BBCObit/>

==Community==
The Rudi Johnson Foundation was established in July 2005. The foundation provides assistance to families and children to promote self-sufficiency and self-reliance and incorporates several community-based programs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 MMHMF Honoree Mrs. Janice Johnson |url=http://www.mmhmf.org/honorees/honoreebio.php?HonoreeID=n58a9fae118aa5a |access-date=July 21, 2017 |publisher=MMHMF}}</ref> In 2007, [[James Farrior]] of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] joined the effort, establishing his own foundation to assist in this movement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Message From James |url=http://www.piascik.com/sites/default/files/news-files/James%20Brochure.PDF |access-date=July 21, 2017 |publisher=JAMES FARRIOR FOUNDATION}}</ref> The foundation helped fund the organization of the first football team for [[Clark Montessori High School]] in [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]]. The foundation supports ''Be The Match'', the national registry of the [[National Bone Marrow Registry]], and regularly organizes and conducts donor drives to recruit minorities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengal Gets Boost from Xavier Students for New Clark Montessori Football Program |url=http://www.xavier.edu/campusuite25/modules/news.cfm?news_id=4942&grp_id=319&archive=yes |access-date=July 21, 2017 |publisher=Xavier University}}{{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Death==
Johnson died in Florida on September 23, 2025, at the age of 45. The investigation into his death is still ongoing, but according to the [[Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office]], "all indications are leading to suicide", with no suspicion of foul play.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Close |first1=David |title=Former NFL and college star Rudi Johnson dead at 45 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/23/sport/football-nfl-rudi-johnson-dead |website=CNN |date=September 23, 2025|access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
Source:<ref name=pfr_profile/>
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| 7 || 0 || 17 || 67 || 3.9 || 13 || 0 || 6 || 34 || 5.7 || 14 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| 13 || 5 || 215 || 957 || '''4.5''' || '''54''' || 9 || 21 || '''146''' || 7.0 || 17 || 0 
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''361''' || 1,454 || 4.0 || 52 || '''12''' || 15 || 84 || 5.6 || 30 || 0
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| '''16''' || 14 || 337 || '''1,458''' || 4.3 || 33 || '''12''' || '''23''' || 90 || 3.9 || 15 || 0
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| '''16''' || 15 || 341 || 1,309 || 3.8 || 22 || '''12''' || 23 || 124 || 5.4 || 18 || 0
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| 11 || 9 || 170 || 497 || 2.9 || 22 || 3 || 13 || 110 || '''8.5''' || 33 || '''1'''
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 14 || 4 || 76 || 237 || 3.1 || 27 || 1 || 12 || 88 || 7.3 || '''34''' || '''1'''
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 95 !! 63 !! 1,517 !! 5,979 !! 3.9 !! 54 !! 49 !! 113 !! 676 !! 6.0 !! 34 !! 2
|}

===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| '''1''' || '''1''' || '''13''' || '''56''' || '''4.3''' || '''20''' || '''1''' || '''2''' || '''14''' || '''7.0''' || '''11''' || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 1 !! 1 !! 13 !! 56 !! 4.3 !! 20 !! 1 !! 2 !! 14 !! 7.0 !! 11 !! 0
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{footballstats|pfr=J/JohnRu00|yahoo=5548}}

{{Southeastern Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{Cincinnati Bengals 2001 draft navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Rudi}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Virginia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Petersburg, Virginia]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Auburn Tigers football players]]
[[Category:Butler Grizzlies football players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:2025 suicides]]
[[Category:Suicides in Florida]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]