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Rondale Moore died Saturday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 25 years old.
New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey confirmed Moore’s body was found in a garage, according to WLKY-TV. An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday. Moore grew up in New Albany, Indiana — the town where his life ended.
The Minnesota Vikings signed Moore back in 2025, but a knee injury during the team’s first preseason game ended his season before it started. He’d spent his first three years with the Arizona Cardinals after they took him with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Between Arizona and Minnesota, there was a brief stop in Atlanta with the Falcons — another preseason knee injury there kept him off the field for all of 2024.
“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.”
It’s hard to overstate just how electric Moore was during his freshman year at Purdue.
He put together one of the best debut seasons in recent college football history back in 2018 — 1,258 receiving yards, another 213 rushing yards, and 14 total touchdowns. The Boilermakers had themselves a weapon. Moore earned consensus All-American honors that year, won the Paul Warfield Trophy, and was named CBS Sports Freshman of the Year. Then injuries hit; he played just seven games combined over his sophomore and junior seasons.
“Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach,” said Jeff Brohm, who was leading the Purdue program during Moore’s time there. “The ultimate competitor that wouldn’t back down from any challenge. Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale, we loved his smile and competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact with.”
Moore’s best season in the NFL came during his third year with Arizona — the only full professional season he completed. He racked up 530 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns. Across his entire Cardinals tenure, Moore gained 1,450 total yards with four touchdowns.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell released his own statement following the news.
“I am devastated by the news of Rondale’s death,” 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. My prayers are with Rondale’s family, friends, teammates and coaches as we all deal with this tragic news.”
