Former NFL running back Rudi Johnson, who played eight seasons between the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions, has died at age 45.

The Bengals, who drafted Johnson in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft, confirmed the news on Tuesday on their social media channels. TMZ was the first outlet to report his death.

“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement. “He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a dear friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”

Johnson spent his first seven NFL seasons in Cincinnati, where he produced three consecutive 1,300-yard campaigns from 2004-06.

He earned his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2004 after rushing for 1,454

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