Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore passed away on Saturday, February 21st.
Moore’s death was confirmed by Floyd County (Ind.) Coroner Matthew Tomlin to the Louisville Courier-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. Moore was 25 years old.
The cause of his death is still under investigation, Tomlin said.
Jeff Brohm, Moore’s coach at Purdue, confirmed the news of Moore’s death in a social media post on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday.
“Rondale Moore was an absolute joy to coach. He was the ultimate competitor who would not back down from any challenge,” Brohm said in the post. “Rondale had a work ethic that was second to none. He was a great teammate who would get through any situation. We all loved Rondale, and we loved his smile and competitive nature, always trying to please everyone he interacted with.”
“We send all our thoughts and prayers to Rondale and his family and we love him very much.”
Moore played for Purdue from 2018 to 2020 and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Moore spent the 2025 season with the Vikings, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2025 preseason opener and missed the entire season.
NFL world reacts to Rondale Moore’s death
Kansas City Chiefs receiver Hollywood Brown, who played with Moore during the 2022-23 season at Arizona State, said in a post Saturday that he texted Moore “a few hours ago.”
“We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Rondale Moore,” the Vikings said in a statement. “While we work to understand the facts, we have spoken with Rondale’s family to express our condolences and express our full support to the Minnesota Vikings. We will also remain in contact with our players, coaches and staff, and provide counseling and emotional support resources to anyone in need.”
“Our thoughts are with Rondale’s family and friends at this devastating time.”
The Vikings also released a statement from head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“We are shocked by the news of Rondale’s passing. Although Rondale was a member of the Vikings for only a short time, he was a man we knew well and cared deeply about. 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 numerous adversities throughout his career due to injuries.
“We are all saddened by the fact that he will not go on to fulfill his NFL dreams and we will never have the chance to see him in action. Our prayers are with Ron Dale’s family, friends, teammates, and coaches as we all deal with this tragic news.”
The NFLPA also released the following statement:
Contributor: Tyler Dragon
This story has been updated with new information.
