Rondale Moore: Former Purdue Star and NFL Receiver Found Dead at 25; Police Suspect Self-Inflicted Gunshot

Rondale Moore, the 25-year-old former Purdue standout and NFL wide receiver, was found dead on Saturday in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana, and police suspect a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The death is under investigation and an autopsy was scheduled for Sunday; the news has prompted statements from the NFL, NFL Players Association, NFL clubs that employed Moore, coaches and former teammates.

Rondale Moore: Circumstances of death

Police in New Albany, Indiana said Moore was found in a garage on Saturday and that investigators suspect the cause was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The death remained under investigation, and Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin confirmed Moore's death and said an autopsy would be conducted on Sunday. A statement from the NFL Players Association strongly hinted at the cause of the sudden passing.

Career arc and injury timeline for Rondale Moore

Moore entered the NFL as a second-round pick out of Purdue in the 2021 draft and spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons in March 2024. While with the Falcons he suffered a dislocated right knee during training camp that ended his 2024 campaign. He signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings in March 2025, participated in offseason work and training camp, and then suffered a season-ending left knee injury while returning a punt on Aug. 9 in the team's preseason opener, causing him to miss a second straight season.

Statistics and on-field record

Across three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Moore made 135 catches for 1, 201 yards and three touchdowns and started 23 games. One account lists additional rushing production during his NFL tenure: 52 rushes for 249 yards and one rushing touchdown during his time with Arizona.

College legacy and differing statistical accounts

Moore was a breakout star at Purdue. As a freshman in 2018 he was named a first-team All-American and won the Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player. One account records his freshman season as featuring 114 catches for 1, 258 yards and 12 touchdowns that earned the award. Another account summarizes his three seasons at Purdue as totaling 1, 915 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns while rushing for 248 yards and three touchdowns. These figures appear in different summaries of his collegiate career and reflect multiple statistical highlights from his time with the Boilermakers.

Reactions from teams, coaches and teammates

The NFL issued a statement saying the league was deeply saddened by Moore's passing and extended thoughts to his family, friends and teammates. The Minnesota Vikings expressed deep sadness, saying the club had spoken with Moore's family to offer condolences and full support and that counseling and emotional-support resources would be made available to players, coaches and staff. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said he was "devastated, " describing Moore as humble, soft-spoken, proud of his Indiana roots, disciplined, dedicated and resilient despite repeated injury setbacks.

The Arizona Cardinals said they were "devastated and heartbroken" and extended thoughts and deepest condolences to Moore's family, friends and teammates. Former coaches and teammates also reacted: Jeff Brohm, who coached Moore at Purdue, praised Moore's competitiveness, unmatched work ethic and team-first nature. Former Cardinals teammate J. J. Watt was among those offering tribute.

Mental-health context, public messages and resources

Commentary accompanying coverage of Moore's death emphasized the wider issue of mental health, urging anyone struggling to reach out for help. A November 2025 feature quoted Jolie Foreman of Shelby County Cares saying that every suicide directly affects 130 people. Messages circulated urging people who are struggling to speak to someone and to use available resources; one specific crisis contact cited was the number to call or text: 988. Those reflections highlighted the broader public-health dimension that many observers connected to this tragedy.

What is known, and what remains unclear

• Known: Rondale Moore was found dead on Saturday in New Albany, Indiana; police suspect a self-inflicted gunshot wound; an autopsy was scheduled for Sunday; Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin confirmed his death.
• Known: Moore was 25; he was a second-round pick out of Purdue in 2021; he spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in March 2024, then signed with the Minnesota Vikings in March 2025; he missed consecutive seasons after knee injuries, including a dislocated right knee in 2024 and a left knee injury on Aug. 9 in the 2025 preseason.
• Unclear in the provided context: many specifics around motive, private circumstances and final medical findings because the official cause of death was pending completion of the autopsy and the investigation remained ongoing.

Recent updates indicate the investigation and autopsy results will provide additional facts; details may evolve as official findings are released. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider reaching out to available crisis resources, including calling or texting 988. One account accompanying coverage also contained a notice that the site and products referenced were for entertainment purposes and that gambling services were intended for adults, with a help line listed for gambling problems as 1-800-GAMBLER.