Former National Football League (NFL) defensive tackle Kevin Johnson, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders, was found dead at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles earlier this week. He was 55. Police have registered the case as a homicide and investigations are under way.
According to officials, Johnson’s body was discovered on Wednesday morning at a homeless encampment in the Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles. Deputies responded to a report of an unconscious man at around 8 am in the 1300 block of East 120th Street, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Death ruled homicide
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as blunt head trauma and stab wounds, ruling the manner of death a homicide. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that the case is being probed as a suspected murder, though no arrests have been announced so far.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Steve De Jong told investigators that Johnson appeared to have been living at the encampment. “Unfortunately, it appears he was homeless and had likely been staying there,” he said.
Health struggles later in life
Friends of Johnson told local media that the former NFL player had faced serious health issues in recent years, which they believe may have contributed to his living conditions. Some close associates suggested that his health problems could have been linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition associated with repeated head injuries in contact sports, though this has not been medically confirmed.
Bruce Todd, a close friend, described Johnson as a warm and fun-loving person. “He was my best friend. I was best man at his wedding. The community is going to miss him,” Todd said.
Brief NFL career
A Los Angeles native, Kevin Johnson played college football at Texas Southern University before being drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut in 1995 with the Philadelphia Eagles, playing two seasons, and later joined the then-Oakland Raiders for the 1997 season.
During his NFL career, Johnson played 38 games, recording 54 tackles, seven sacks, and one touchdown from a fumble return. He later played in the Arena Football League.
Police said further details would emerge as the investigation progresses.