Minnesota Vikings receiver Rondale Moore died Saturday at age 25. The former Purdue star was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 with the 49th overall pick. The Vikings announced Moore’s death Saturday.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rondale Moore,” the Vikings said in a statement. “While we are working to understand the facts, we have spoken with Rondale’s family to offer our condolences and the full support of the Minnesota Vikings. We have also been in communication with our players, coaches, and staff, and will make counseling and emotional support resources available to anyone in need. Our thoughts are with Rondale’s family and friends during this devastating time.”
Moore spent time with three teams during his five-year career in the NFL. Injuries impacted the New Albany, Indiana native’s career in the league. His last two seasons ended with injuries before he was able to take the field in a regular-season game.
“I am devastated by the news of Rondale’s death,” Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “While Rondale had been a member of the Vikings for a short time, he was someone we came to know well and care about deeply. He was a humble, soft-spoken, and respectful young man who was proud of his Indiana roots. As a player, he was disciplined, dedicated and resilient despite facing adversity multiple times as injuries sidelined him throughout his career. We are all heartbroken by the fact he won’t continue to live out his NFL dream, and we won’t all have a chance to watch him flourish.”
Purdue Stardom Leads To NFL Career For Rondale Moore
It didn’t take long for Moore to make his impact in college. He broke onto the scene with a stellar freshman campaign in 2018 with the Boilermakers. Moore was an All-American and Big Ten Freshman of the Year that season after catching 114 passes for 1,258 yards.
He set the school record for all-purpose yards with 2,215 as a freshman. Moore tied a Boilermakers record with seven 100-yard receiving games.
Current Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm, who coached Moore at Purdue, released a statement following the news Saturday.
Injury problems impacted Moore’s next two seasons with the Boilermakers. He played in just seven games over that span but managed to generated enough buzz to gain NFL attention. It led to the 5-foot-7, 181-pound receiver being selected by the Cardinals.
Moore went down with a knee injury on his first snap of the preseason in a matchup against the Houston Texans on Aug. 9. He never reached the season the year before after injuring his knee in training camp. Moore was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of what would be his lone season with Atlanta.
However, he was able to produce when healthy with the Cardinals. Moore caught at least 40 passes in each of his three seasons in the desert. His most productive season came as a rookie in 2021 when he caught 54 passes for 435 yards and a touchdown. Moore’s three-year stint came to a close with 135 catches for 1,201 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns.
Moore News Brings Attention From Across The NFL
Though his time in the NFL was brief, Moore’s death brought a wave of reaction across the league Saturday. Players and coaches from throughout the NFL took to social media to remember the Purdue alum following the news.
No official cause of death has been released but TV station WLKY based in Louisville reported Saturday that an autopsy will take place Sunday.
