NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson shared an inspiring message with young athletes in his home state of Virginia just days before he reportedly died by suicide.

Johnson, 45, was inducted into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 18 as a graduate of Thomas Dale High School and a product of the Ettrick Trojans of the Chesterfield Quarterback League.

The former NFL star shared an inspiring message in a video played at the induction ceremony, where he thanked past coaches and teammates and shared the advice and encouragement he received over the years.

“I want to give a special shoutout to all the people who came before me, the alumni from Thomas Dale High School and Ettrick Trojans,” he said in the video, according to t

See Full Page