Crime & Safety
Former Oakland Raider Found Stabbed To Death In LA Homeless Encampment: Report
During his time with the NFL, Kevin Johnson played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A former NFL player was found dead at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles early Wednesday, according to authorities and multiple media reports.
Kevin Johnson, 55, who played for the Oakland Raiders, died from "blunt head trauma and stab wounds," according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
"Unfortunately, it appears he was homeless," Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve De Jong told Newsweek. "It looks like he was probably living there."
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During his time with the NFL, Johnson played 38 games for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders. He played his last game in 1997 after three years of play.
Johnson’s death left NFL fans in shock.
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“I never thought for the life of me that could happen to an NFL player,” one user on X wrote. “What happened to the brotherhood? Tons of millionaires in the NFL. NOBODY HELPED!”
Friends of Johnson told ABC 7 News that he struggled with health issues, which they attributed to possibly stemming from CTE, “a degenerative brain disease that can cause symptoms such as cognitive impairment, behavioral and mood changes, and motor problems” that is common among former NFL players.
"They are most likely correct," Chris Nowinski, a neuroscientist and the CEO of a CTE organization, said on X. "We need to keep talking about CTE."
Despite his health issues, friends told ABC 7 News his character did not waver.
"He was my best friend. I was best man at his wedding,” Bruce Todd told the TV station.
“Great guy, fun-loving. The community is going to miss him.”
Johnson was born in Los Angeles and went on to play college football at Texas Southern, according to Football Reference. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 86th overall in the 1993 NFL draft.
He never played a game for the Patriots, though, and was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles before the 1995 season.
Johnson’s final game was in 1997 with the Oakland Raiders.
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