NFL
NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) — Rondale Moore, the NFL receiver who had season-ending coaching camp knee accidents in every of the final two years after a standout school profession at Purdue and a promising begin with the Arizona Cardinals, was discovered useless Saturday, authorities stated. He was 25.
Police stated Moore died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. Moore was discovered useless within the storage of a property in his hometown of New Albany, police chief Todd Bailey stated. The loss of life stays underneath investigation.
Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin additionally confirmed Moore’s loss of life. He stated an post-mortem can be performed on Sunday.
After being traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, Moore dislocated his proper knee throughout coaching camp and by no means performed for them. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2025, however he blew out his left knee whereas returning a punt of their first exhibition sport and spent one other full season on injured reserve. Moore was so distraught after instantly realizing the seriousness of that damage that he slammed his hand down on a cart so exhausting the sound was audible all through the stadium.
The Vikings stated they’d spoken with Moore’s household to supply condolences and help.
“I’m devastated by the information of Rondale’s loss of life. Whereas Rondale had been a member of the Vikings for a short while, he was somebody we got here to know effectively and care about deeply,” coach Kevin O’Connell stated in an announcement distributed by the crew. “He was a humble, soft-spoken, and respectful younger man who was happy with his Indiana roots. As a participant, he was disciplined, devoted and resilient regardless of going through adversity a number of occasions as accidents sidelined him all through his profession. We’re all heartbroken by the actual fact he gained’t proceed to stay out his NFL dream and we gained’t all have an opportunity to look at him flourish.”
In an announcement, the Cardinals stated they have been “devastated and heartbroken.”
“Our ideas and deepest condolences are together with his household, associates, teammates, and everybody who liked him and had the privilege of figuring out such a particular individual,” the crew stated in a social media publish.
Moore grew up in New Albany, simply throughout the Indiana border from Louisville, Kentucky, and was a primary crew All-American as a freshman at Purdue in 2018.
“Rondale Moore was an entire pleasure to educate. The last word competitor who wouldn’t again down from any problem. Rondale had a piece ethic unmatched by anybody. An awesome teammate that might come by way of in any scenario. All of us liked Rondale; we liked his smile and his aggressive edge that all the time needed to please everybody he got here in touch,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm stated on social media. Brohm was the coach at Purdue when Moore performed there.
Drafted within the second spherical by the Cardinals in 2021, Moore had 1,201 receiving yards and three touchdowns plus 249 speeding yards and one rating over three seasons. He served as their major returner for kickoffs and punts as a rookie earlier than accidents pushed him away from that position.
“Can’t even start to fathom or course of this,” former Cardinals teammate J.J. Watt stated on social media. “There’s simply no method. Means too quickly. Means too particular. A lot left to offer. Relaxation in peace Rondale.”
